Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Dikgang Uhuru Moiloa, has sent condolences to the families of two people who died during an eviction at Rus–ter-vaal.
 
Information available to the Department suggest that two people, a member of the community and a person working for a security company that was doing the evictions died during an eviction at Rus-ter-vaal in the Sedibeng region. People invaded the land in Rus-ter-vaal in the previous weeks and the Emfuleni Municipality obtained a court order to evict them.
 
“Loss of life is unfortunate and never acceptable. I send my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. I also call for calm in the area and for people to leave the land they have invaded to avoid further clashes,” he said.
 
Moiloa called on the law enforcement agencies to take action against those responsible for the deaths.
 
“It is time that those who initiate land invasion are also prosecuted as they are the ones who led the people to their death. These so called community leaders who thrive on creating anarchy must be exposed and they must face the full might of the law,” he said.
 
Moiloa said that land invasion is a crime that will be never be accepted and those who invade land will be evicted.
 
He said that a portion of land was identified for possible development, with in the South of Rus-ter-vaal, however, it was discovered that this land is underlined with dolomite and further studies are required in order to establish what measures should be taken should the Department continue with development on this portion of land.
 
“Only the preliminary studies were completed, so the development is in its early stages of planning. Further, the subsidy quantum does not make provision for additional cost attached to dolomitic land. For this reason an additional portion of land was identified in the vicinity of Rus-ter-vaal. Only a feasibility study was completed and no further studies were completed. It must be noted that the sewer will drain towards Midvaal sewer treatment plant which must be upgraded before development can take place in Rus-ter-vaal. This fact was communicated several times to the community leaders, MMC for Housing and ward councillor,” he said.
 
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