By Jose Coetzee | DA Councillor Setsoto Municipality
Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Jose Coetzee and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will table an urgent motion in the Setsoto Local Municipality Council, compelling the municipality to finalise its eviction application to address the illegal informal settlements in Clocolan, known as Vooruitzicht, and tackle the housing department’s backlog.
Since the issue began in 2023, the municipality’s inaction has resulted in a daily increase in illegal occupants. The settlements have even expanded, with the new extension referred to as Zone 14. This growing crisis threatens to destabilise formal Township planning, further disadvantaging the community by delaying legitimate housing allocations. The DA has consistently demanded progress, but the municipality’s latest excuse is a prolonged delay in acting on a legal opinion from their attorneys.
Received on 6 September 2024, the legal opinion recommended that the municipality file an eviction application in the Free State High Court. Despite obtaining a favourable court ruling regarding illegal occupants in Ficksburg on 30 September 2024, the city has not acted in nearly four months to address the situation in Clocolan.
Furthermore, the DA is deeply concerned about the politicisation of the issue, with political parties allegedly encouraging illegal land grabs to bolster their support base. Such actions undermine governance and exploit vulnerable communities.
We demand immediate council approval to proceed with the eviction application. Special council meetings could and should have been convened to address this urgent matter. As part of our action plan, the DA will not only table the motion but will also ensure continuous monitoring of the municipality’s handling of this crisis to prevent further negligence.
While we recognise the community’s urgent need for housing, it remains steadfast that all procedures must adhere to legal frameworks to avoid exploitation and fraud—failure to act swiftly risks worsening the housing backlog and creating further divisions within the community.
The DA calls on the Setsoto Local Municipality to prioritise this issue and commit to restoring order, protecting vulnerable communities, and delivering equitable housing solutions without delay.