The Executive Mayor of ELM, Gift Moerane, addressed the community of Rust-ter- Vaal recently. He was accompanied by Provincial Chairperson of the SAHRC, Bua Jones (left). Photo: Lazarus Dithagiso
RUST-TER-VAAL. – The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) recently summoned the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), the Red Ants and South African Police Service (SAPS) officials to account to the incident that resulted in two deaths during the evictions at the Ramaphosa Informal Settlement near Rust-ter-Vaal.

Provincial Chairperson of the SAHRC, Bua Jones, said they are an institution that is transparent. Addressing a full hall last week, Jones said theirs is to facilitate on a constructive engagement between the community, local government and other stakeholders.
“As Commission we will note your concerns and later have a closed meeting with all stakeholders to understand what relates to the killings.”
Eric Lewak, a community member, said that ‘the elephant in the room’ is the ANC abusing the community.
“ANC leaders in Emfuleni play with our minds. There are communities who have been waiting patiently for houses and those illegal squatters came here as domestics to work at Roshnee. They are not from here. The issue here is about land and has nothing to do with racism.”
ELM executive mayor Gift Moerane has called for calm as the provincial government is dealing with the matter.
“We are aware that the squatters are not welcomed.

Part of the area is also dolomite and too dangerous to build houses.
People living in the backyards will be allocated to houses elsewhere, either at Tshepong, Savanna or Boiketlong.”
“The issue of Rust Ter Vaal houses is being addressed by the provincial government,” said Moerane who was accompanied by MMC for Housing Edwin Kele.
The ward committee also presented their case about the mushrooming of squatters.

Source: Sedigeng Ster