Black residents from Bekkersdal on the West Rand have invaded nearby land owned by mining companies.
The residents have accused the Westonaria local municipality of corruption in the Bekkersdal urban renewal project.
The land invasions began at the weekend after negotiations between the community and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs hit a wall. By yesterday morning, more than 500 residents had put their names on a list one of them had begun to compile, and had laid claim to stands in an open stretch of land adjacent to the township.
Some of the residents stayed away from work to take advantage of “the opportunity of a lifetime”.
“I am taking my stand. I do not know whether this is going to work out or not. If it does, I don’t want to be left behind,” said one resident.
Community spokesman Thabang Wesi said the community are reclaiming what is rightfully theirs.
“This is our land.”
Gauteng department of human settlements spokesman Motsamai Motlhaolwa said the land was privately owned.
“The owner of the land has the responsibility to go to court to get an order evicting the people from his land,” he said.
Gold One spokesman Grant Stuart said one of the three properties being invaded belonged to the company but was being transferred to another owner. The two other properties belong to Rand Uranium.
Source: timeslive