Galada halves public land meeting

Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - More than 100 people attended the recent public hearing on the Expropriation Bill by the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure at the Alex Laing Hall in Kroonvale, Graaff-Reinet, but only half of the audience stayed till the end.

The new bill will provide a framework for the expropriation of property by the state.

Show of solidarity

It wasn't long before Councillor Xolile Galada and a group of residents arrived at the hearing and attempted to disrupt the process.

When Galada again left the hearing, more than half of the audience followed suit in a show of solidarity. His support grew after Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality filed an interdict against him, Maureen Malaya and ten others for their alleged involvement in the unlawful invasion of municipal property. The property has been identified as Erf 4460, situated between Merino and Aster streets in Kroonvale. A large crowd gathered at the Graaff-Reinet Magistrates Court when Galada appeared for the first time on 5 July. On 14 July residents gathered at the municipal building in Caledon Street to hand a petition to Mayor Willem Safers against the interdict.

Galada: 'Start local'

Speaking to Graaff-Reinet Advertiser, Galada explained that they caused the disruption at the meeting as national bills cannot be entertained while locals have their own struggles. "In as much as it is the right thing to do, we have to entertain our issues with the municipality first. Once we get our own house in order, we can entertain other bills," he said. "People have the right to shelter, safety and humanity. We need to restore their dignity, and the only way to do this is to give them property."

He said families are arguing as they share the same house left behind by their deceased parents and grandparents. Families have extended, and descendants need their own homes. Other families are squatting in back yards, paying rent with no access to subsidies. These families need to be given plots and services. He said when they start paying for services they will contribute to the revenue of the municipality. "Human settlements give people plots and services – they do not have to pay for these plots, they only pay for services – so this is the same thing," Galada argued. "People suffer humiliation due to lack of services," he said. "We are saying services must go to the people and nothing else. It is not political; we are merely trying to restore dignity."

Case continues

According to Galada a motion relating to the municipal property in question was submitted to council on 8 May. Council debated the motion and recommended that the property must be mapped and rezoned. "What happened to this resolution? You cannot override council's recommendation and then take me to court."

The case against Galada and Malaya appeared before court again on Wednesday 26 July. The newspaper went to press before the hearing ended. Read what happened in court at www.graaffreinetadvertiser.com.

Respondents three, four and five - Freek Adams, Geraldine Moorman and Portia Moos - who started squatting on the municipal property on 17 and 18 June, appeared before court for their eviction hearing for the first time on 12 July. The case was postponed until 17 August to allow them time to obtain legal representation.

Previous articles:

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’