FAMILIES from Khayelitsha village near Kidd’s Beach were given a reprieve yesterday when the owner of the land they are illegally occupying held off on a threat to demolish their homes.
Buffalo City Metro (BCM) council has engaged with the farm owner, Moshe Sohaba, in an effort to buy the land on behalf of the residents.
More than 200 families were served with letters last month informing them they should vacate the farm by Tuesday.
However, residents did not move, saying they had nowhere to go as the farm had been their home for more than five years.
“We are relieved for now to still have our homes.
“After the council meeting on Tuesday we have hope that our municipality will resolve this matter for us and buy the land for us and our children,” said local Zibuyile Jack.
Sohaba said he would meet with municipal manager Andile Fani today to discuss the matter.
A delegation of 30 residents from the village expressed their grievances at the council meeting about their pending eviction.
“This affects us directly and because of that we had to go out and plead with the metro to buy the land for us. Until this matter is resolved we will live in fear ,” said 74-year-old Mozilima Ncalu.
Sohaba said he put the eviction process on hold as he needed to hear what the municipality had to say.
A progress report will be delivered to the community after two weeks.
BCM Mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and Fani will carry out the negotiation process.
Ward councillor Batini Booi said the motive behind the negotiations was to buy the land.
Asked how the municipality provided water services for the residents on private land Booi said: “We had to provide water to the people and what we provided was not permanent water tanks but a service for people to survive.” —
BCM intervenes in farm eviction threat
Buffalo City Metro (BCM) council has engaged with the farm owner, Moshe Sohaba, in an effort to buy the land on behalf of the residents.
More than 200 families were served with letters last month informing them they should vacate the farm by Tuesday.
However, residents did not move, saying they had nowhere to go as the farm had been their home for more than five years.
“We are relieved for now to still have our homes.
“After the council meeting on Tuesday we have hope that our municipality will resolve this matter for us and buy the land for us and our children,” said local Zibuyile Jack.
Sohaba said he would meet with municipal manager Andile Fani today to discuss the matter.
A delegation of 30 residents from the village expressed their grievances at the council meeting about their pending eviction.
“This affects us directly and because of that we had to go out and plead with the metro to buy the land for us. Until this matter is resolved we will live in fear ,” said 74-year-old Mozilima Ncalu.
Sohaba said he put the eviction process on hold as he needed to hear what the municipality had to say.
A progress report will be delivered to the community after two weeks.
BCM Mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and Fani will carry out the negotiation process.
Ward councillor Batini Booi said the motive behind the negotiations was to buy the land.
Asked how the municipality provided water services for the residents on private land Booi said: “We had to provide water to the people and what we provided was not permanent water tanks but a service for people to survive.” —
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