Hundreds of families left homeless after evictions

AQUAVILLE – More than 700 families were left homeless following evictions that were carried out by the red-ants at Aquaville settlement outside Groblersdal on Wednesday.

According to Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality, the property belongs to Sekhukhune TVET College which sought a court order for the removal of people occupying that land.

Kgolole Masemola, a community leader, said they were angered by the local municipality’s lack of intervention on the matter.

Masemola worried the local municipality only recognized Aquaville residents during elections time and did not care about them.

“This is a serious problem for the residents of Aquaville. The local municipality comes to us when they need votes but today they claim no knowledge of our existence. We feel betrayed. They must give us our votes back because to them we do not exist.

Masemola said people lost their property as the red-ants carried out the evictions and that many were left homeless.

“We do not know where people are going to sleep. They don’t have foot and others lost everything during the eviction process,” said Masemola.

He said they needed the municipality to intervene in the saga and provide the affected families an alternative place to stay.

“This is very serious. We need the local and the district municipality to tell where we should go. They know about us because we have leaving here for more the 24 years,” concluded Masemola.

Lopi Ranala, Economic Freedom Fighters Councillor, said the situation was bad in that it involved children, women and the disabled.

Ranala said they were there to help people with their belongings as the red-ants damaged some of the property.

“We are going to engage the local municipality to see how they can help these people,” said Ranala.

Abbickey Kgolane, Sekhukhune TVET College Marketing Officer, confirmed the property belonged to the college.

Kgolane said the college acquired the property about three years ago.