Six people who were arrested for trespassing following evictions at Aquaville settlement were released on free bail

AQUAVILLE- Six people who were arrested for trespassing following evictions at Aquaville settlement outside Groblersdal last Wednesday were released on free bail when they appeared before the Groblersdal Magistrates Court on Monday.
Kgolole Masemola, one of the arrested and released, said they were arrested during the early hours of Friday morning after the eviction were carried out by the red ants on Wednesday
“We were charged with trespassing but were released on free bail on Monday when we appeared before court,” explained Masemola.
According to Masemola they were ordered to reappear before the court on 19 October 2018 after their release.
More than 700 families were left homeless when evictions were carried out at the settlement last 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.
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