Living hell in Ranyane

OARABILE MOSIKARE
Staff Writer | Friday August 16, 2013 00:00

 

RANYANE: It is now a week since the people of Ranyane settlement, southwest of Ghanzi, have been without water. A borehole that has been supplying the residents of this area --- who are predominantly Basarwa --- with water experienced mechanical faults last week Thursday. According to Basarwa who live here, they have reported the issue to the Ghanzi District Council (GDC) through their area councillor Meta Kodie but there has been no respite.

According to a village elder, Heebe Karakubis, they now have to trek about 36 kilometres to source water in Metsimantsho. 'It is a matter of time before we and our cattle all die due to thirst,' said the 57-year-old Karakubis. Karakubis is married to the area headman of arbitration Xharake Phuthi, who was not available on Tuesday when the Mmegi team visited Ranyane. She alleged that the GDC apparently told Kodie that they did not have water bousers to supply the marginalised people of Ranyane with water. On a daily basis, according to MmaKgosi as Karakubis is affectionally called by other residents, they have to herd their cattle to Metsimantsho for watering. Thanks to a Good Samaritan, a certain Mr Tase who owns a farm in Metsimantsho, Ranyane residents have been able to obtain water from his farm borehole. As if this is not enough the government also discontinued the Ipelegeng programme in the area in early July, according to another resident, Kwere Khumo.'There are no jobs here. We relied on Ipelegeng for sustenance but the government thought otherwise,' Kwere said.

Kwere revealed that since they are unemployed, they depend on Tsabana and Tsabotlhe (supplementary feeds supplied to children at clinics) for their meals. She also alleged that the council had also closed a standpipe near the kgotla. This is in contradiction to a High Court order that prohibited the government from doing so in July this year. The 34-year-old Kwere, a Form Two Junior Certificate holder, is a single mother who has three mouths to feed. 'There are no jobs here. We relied on Ipelegeng for sustenance but the government thought otherwise,' Kwere said. 'Without water and food we are as good as dead,' she said.  Government is moving to escalate its  purging of Basarwa in Ranyane. According to a secret report from the Council, on August 28 this year council officials will meet with the remaining Ranyane community to inform them of termination of services. These include termination of food baskets, old age pension allowance, pay points, monthly mobile health stop and headman of arbitration.

The council will on September 10 evict those who resist relocation. It will also remove the water engine and seal the borehole. It will also dismantle kraals and demolish kgotla toilets, standpipes and discontinue mobile clinics.The leaked report has revealed that the Ghanzi District Council (GDC) intends to use P7,643, 227.50 to evict residents of Ranyane.The High Court in June this year ruled that the people of Ranyane should not be relocated but the report indicates that the council has already made plans to evict or relocate the residents. The report titled 'Ranyane Relocation Phase II' discloses that the GDC is undertaking another relocation of Ranyane residents to Bere and Chobokwane as from August 12, 2013 and August 13, 2013.

It says 20 families have shown interest in being relocated. Eleven households were assessed from July 26 to July 28, 2013 at Ranyane and 10 households in Bere have not been assessed.The eviction of Ranyane community has been hovering over them since early 2009. The council and Ghanzi Land Board (GLB) had alleged that the settlement was illegal and would be demolished. The High Court ruling in July this year overturned this.Efforts to contact the GDC drew a blank, as officers did not answer their phones.