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Squatters pose threat Crime escalates while mine, municipality refuse to take responsibility Marti Will mwill@volksblad.com
The Harmony Gold Mine does not want to take responsibility for the illegal squatters who have settled on the mining ground adjacent to the Pabalong Village in Alma Road. The mining group says Nkosinjani Speelman, executive mayor of Matjhabeng, gave the squatters permission to be there, and that Harmony Gold subsequently donated the land to the municipality. The Matjhabeng Local Government has, however, resolved that Speelman had no authority to accept the land on the municipality’s behalf. According to a resolution taken at a council sitting on 30 August, council delegates led by Speelman, together with representatives of national and provincial government, must interact with Harmony Gold. The delegation must discuss the issue of infrastructure funding for the area and other areas where Harmony has donated land. Council will only consider the donation of land once funding for basic infrastructure has been secured. The matter must then be brought back to council once financial support has been obtained. At this council sitting, it was stated that council does not condone any arbitrary land grabbing, irrespective of whether the land is owned by council, individuals or multinational companies.
The illegal squatters on the Harmony Gold Mine’s ground at the Pabalong Village are being left unchecked. The settlement is now some 3 000 shacks strong, and is encircling businesses in Alma Road. It is also very close to the Amari School. Photo: Jacques Erasmus
On the one hand, Harmony says it has donated the land (and settlers) to council, but the council says it will not accept the donation of land (and settlers). Council has concluded that the mayor had no authority to take the action he did, and that Matjhabeng does not have the money to develop the gift. Now the crucial question – that no one seems to want to answer – remains: Where
does this leave the illegal settlers and their impact on the businesses and residents around the Alma Road settlement? Crime in the area has escalated, and is even affecting Reitz Park and Dagbreek. Break-ins have been reported at the Agulhus Town Houses in Dagbreek and at the Amari School. A vet in Alma Road was robbed of computer equipment and other property, the
SPCA has been targeted, and the Welkom Mashie club has suffered armed robberies. Fencing has been stolen off several businesses in Alma Road, and the attempted theft of vehicles parked in Alma Road has been reported. According to Capt. Stephen Thakeng, police spokesperson, residents and business owners must ensure that cases are registered so that crime hotspots can be
identified. “When people feel threatened, it is our mandate as the police to intervene. Joint operations and visible policing will be conducted in the Alma Road squatter camp. Crime intelligence has also been deployed,” Thakeng says. “We will continue to ensure the safety of our residents,” says Thakeng. The police emergency numbers are 10111, 0860010111 or 057-391-6011.
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