Pretoria – Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says she will establish an enquiry to investigate the manner in which the Lwandle evictions were carried out.
The minister on Tuesday said that the enquiry would take an in-depth look at all processes and procedures followed by all involved in the eviction. This would include looking at all the steps involved, up until the removal was authorised by the High Court and subsequently implemented this week.
Minister Sisulu said the eviction of the trespassing families in Lwandle, near Strand outside Cape Town, should have been handled better.
“What we saw in the media, the information we gathered from the community, reports we received from South African National Road Agency (Sanral) and statements from the City of Cape Town leaves us with many unanswered questions.
“It is not possible that in the middle of a very cold Western Cape winter, rains and children writing exams, the whole community can be removed in such a brutal way. That concerns me as the Minister of Human Settlements. We are a caring government."
Sanral in January obtained a High Court eviction order against hundreds of people who had illegally invaded the area, which is earmarked for road construction.
Minister Sisulu, her deputy Zou Kota-Fredericks, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, representatives from Sanral and the City of Cape Town visited the affected families, which are being accommodated at the local community hall.
Minister Sisulu and Kota-Fredericks also received briefings from the Western Cape MEC of Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, Sanral and community representatives.
After the briefings and the community visit, the ministers agreed that the City of Cape Town and Sanral could have handled the dispute and the whole relocation process differently, with the main concern being the interest of the people, especially children and the elderly.
The ministers indicated that if the two parties (the City and Sanral) could not find a solution, they should have elevated the dispute to the provincial and national government for mediation and guidance.
Minister Sisulu said that in consultation with the Transport Minister, the illegal occupiers will temporary settle at Lwandle, whilst government will assist Sanral and the City of Cape Town to find a solution to their dispute.
"We must be very clear - we do not encourage illegal occupation of land. It is the inhumane way in which children and women are being removed during winter that we are concerned about. The people will have to move out of the land when necessary arrangements are made," Minister Sisulu said. - SAnews.gov.za
