By Phumlani Saul
RESIDENTS of Solomon Mahlangu squatter camp became homeless on Friday.
Their shacks in eNdlovini near Zinto Street Khayelitsha in Kariega were demolished, apparently by security guards from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality land invasion unit.
Eight shacks were demolished and the owners said they had no idea why they were singled out.
Mthembu Maseti (35) said: “All the shacks they had numbers on them.”It looks as if only shacks with numbers were demolished.”
Mlungisi said the security guards went as far as beating and shouting at them .
“This is not fair. We didn’t resist,” he said.Miungisi said they didn’t open cases”
The last time we did that, police didn’t help us with anything, so it’s pointless to open cases,” he said.
” he saidSipho Makhoba (43) said he lost everything during the demolition.
“All our building materials were destroyed,” said
Sipho.
“Our groceries were scattered every where and there was a huge mix-up.
“We have no shelter and food. We didn’t stay in the shacks by choice.
“We previously were renting, but . it became too expensive.”Residents said some shacks had been there since 2011, while others were a year old. They said recently built shacks were not demolished.
But municipal spokesman Msawakhe Mayisela told Daily Kasi News : “The city’s land invasion unit was asked to assist the provincial human settlements department with the removal or demolition of illegally built informal dwellings.”
He referred the DK Team’s queries to the department.Mayisela said instructions given to the land invasion unit guards were that only unoccupied structures were to be demolished.
Daily Kasi News 