Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Riette Dell and Sesotho by Karabo Khakhau MP.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned about the illegal land occupation that has occurred in Ficksburg, Meqheleng, which has resulted in the disruption of the R26 between Clocolan and Ficksburg. Please see pictures here, here and here.
The residents of the community have grown weary of waiting for the promises made by the ANC-led council for the past three years regarding the provision of sites for the community.
The community members have taken matters into their own hands and started building on land that was once a failed agricultural project called the peach project, as well as on land next to the mountain and Meulspruit dam. This has resulted in the illegal occupation of land and the disruption of the R26, causing inconvenience to the residents and travellers passing through the area.
The ANC-led council allegedly conducted a mass registration for sites just before the elections, promising residents that if they voted for the party, they would receive sites. However, the promises made have not been fulfilled, and some residents have been waiting for sites for as long as 20 years.
The lack of consequence management and investigation into the allegations of corruption by the Municipal Housing Department, where sites were allegedly sold, is a significant contributing factor to the problems facing Setsoto Local Municipality.
The DA calls on the ANC-led council to urgently address the concerns of the community, investigate the allegations of corruption within the Municipal Housing Department, and take immediate action to provide sites to those on the waiting list.
The illegal land occupation is a direct result of broken promises and a lack of action by the council, and it is imperative that they take responsibility and work towards a solution that benefits the community.