Lwandle residents return

Residents told GroundUp that electricity is yet to be restored, and they are not sure if it will be restored at all. There is a shortage of taps with some residents fetching water far away from their homes. Residents are also sharing a few mobile toilets.

Dozens of residents said they have lost their belongings during the evictions and there is no indication that they will be compensated.

Xoliswa Mahlakala is one of those who lost everything. She estimates her loss is close to R20,000. She said, “I had a cupboard which was full of dishes, a wardrobe that was full of clothes, a double bed, couches, curtains, television, my laptop and my child’s stationery. Authorities told us that it was destroyed by the bulldozer.”

Mahlakala said she is not the only one. “Most of us who lived in Phase One lost everything, except those that were home during the eviction that managed to salvage what they could.”

People from Phase Two said they received back some of their belongings. Some possessions were damaged.

A woman who identified herself as Mambathane from Phase Two said, “I got my cupboard with broken door handles; some cups and glasses were also broken. I never got back the carpet, but I was happy that I received most of the things.”

A newly built shack for evicted Lwandle residents. Photo by Johnnie Isaac.

Mahlakala said SANRAL and the South African Security Services Agency had offered to support them in buying some of the lost items, including school uniforms for their children and other basics. But to date, they have not received any support or word of what was promised.

Residents seemed hopeful that the outcome of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the minister for Human Settlements will resolve the issues.

Meanwhile 16 residents that were arrested for public violence during the eviction are to appear at Strand Magistrate Court on Friday 26 September.