Doreen Mokgolo
When the residents of the Gugulethu Informal settlement in Springs, Ekurhuleni, were given the green light to move into their new RDP houses they were over the moon.
They had been staying in shacks for years. Now finally, they had places to call home.
But their excitement was short-lived when a group of men forced them to move back to their shacks, alleging that they had illegally received the houses.
On Wednesday night a group of armed men stormed into their homes, vandalised them, and assaulted residents, threatening their lives.
They even dosed two residents with petrol and threatened to set them alight.
One victim, Nophumzile Mahlanjane, 68, said she was sleeping with her three grandchildren when she heard people screaming for help outside and the sound of banging.
“A few minutes later I heard someone kicking my two doors, trying to force them open, while others continued to break the windows.
“Three men managed to gain entry inside the house and physically assaulted my daughter and called her names and smashed my crockery,” she said.
She said one of the intruders advised her to vacate her new home as they were planning to set the houses on fire the following night.
Another resident, Sarah Skhosana, added that she was happy when she finally moved into her new house.
“I have been waiting for this house since 1998. Now that I finally moved in I am tormented by criminals threatening our lives.”
Out of fear, the residents packed their belongings and moved back to their shacks.
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed that this is the second reported incident since the residents moved in May.
“We encouraged the residents to move into the new houses while they wait for them to be fitted with electricity and water.
“This is after we identified that there were disgruntled residents who had illegally occupied the houses and some were vandalised.”
Springs Police spokesperson, Sergeant Temba Dlamini, said they will increase police visibility in the area.
He said police had shared the contact details of the visible police commander so residents can call him when they are attacked.
Police are investigating cases of malicious damage to property and trespassing and encouraging residents to report other cases.
