Petition update:
To all the amazing people who have shared and signed the ‘illegal settlement petition’, this is an update on where we are.
The petition, complete with all your signatures, was presented and/or sent to the Petitions Committee, JMPD, CAN, Environmental Health Region A, CPF, as well as various senior DA leaders.
It has been received by these organisations, some action has been taken, albeit far too slow for our liking. We are continually petitioning these organisations to ensure that our rights as citizens are being attended to and respected.
In terms of the actual squatter camps:
Clayoven
This is provincial land, and although alternative housing was identified years ago, the squatter community rejected the proposal. We have counteracted that due to the majority being illegal squatters living there and they don’t have a say in the matter.
GingerPark
This is private land. We are in regular communication with the owner, and he has and is still actively pursuing the eviction by way of the High Court. He has recently won a cost order against the COJ for failing to comply with a court order. Great news is that legal action is well underway.
A census in April was conducted to ascertain how many people live in both squatter camps, and their legal status. We are awaiting the final report but GingerPark was not willing to allow the census to be conducted.
One of the other GVT departments that we have been emailing, without joy, is the DOH.
SAPS is supposedly monitoring both squatter camps.
The petition and momentum to push the evictions over the line, has not died a useless death. We are still actively pushing.
One of the many excuses we encountered was the elections, they have come and gone, and now it’s time for action!