Jwaneng squatters to be evicted

Lebogang Baingapi | Thursday July 23, 2015 13:08

The special full council meeting heard that the task team that was assigned to assess the living conditions of squatters came up with a recommendation to evict them with immediate effect. The illegal dwellers have been given two options; to go voluntarily or the council will apply for an eviction order through the High Court. This will not be the first time the council engages in eviction of squatters who keep recurring.

The report was the third one and councilors could not hide their disappointment at the recommendation for eviction saying the task team should have found new initiatives to sustain the squatters once they are evicted from the camp. The report further states that 95 percent of the squatters have a desire to be repatriated to their homes of origin. Results from the survey reveal that 81 percent of the squatters are from the Southern District while those from Kweneng District account for 11 percent.

Councilor Bankinyana Montsiemang of Ngami ward said the report did not present anything new and was similar to the previous reports. He noted that the report did not target the root cause, which is unemployment and high rentals in Jwaneng. “We cannot be quick to evict people who are here to look for jobs and some of these squatters are working in low paying jobs,” he said.

Montsiemang suggested that the appropriate solution would be to give them services at their camps or alternatively build a road that links Sese and Mokhomma that also connect to Jwaneng. He said a good road network would make it easier for job seekers to commute from their villages. The councilor further said the town council should provide housing to the squatters through the destitute housing program.

He also argued that the report should not be adopted before consultations with Kweneng and Southern District councils are complete. In the ongoing consultation, all the three councils will asked to a adopt ways in which they can support the squatters with the government poverty alleviation programs, once they arrive at home (after the planned eviction). Councillor for Seole ward Obed Monkge was also of the view that if the government can service the land in unit eight and nine, the problem of squatting could be history. He was against the eviction of squatters, he said, adding that what the council should be doing is fighting unemployment and poverty in the town.

However, the deputy mayor Kruger Chepete disagreed with his fellow councilors, arguing that those squatters will be repatriated to their homes of origin to access services that can better their lives.

After a heated debate, four councilors believed that the report should be adopted, pending consultation with the relevant councils and the minister of Lands and Housing ,while two believed the adoption should be delayed.

Councilor Ronica Ntsimako  of Mogale ward asked that the special full council should adjourn so that they could caucus and advise each other accordingly.

Nonetheless, the report was adopted. Specially elected councilors Olga Ditsie and Benjamin Bakwena will represent the council in all meetings concerning the matter.