The Rep 10 November 2017

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2 Tel: (045) 839-4040 Emergency: (A/H) 083-272-0955 ° Editorial: sonjar@timesmedia.co.za - advertising: charodinev@timesmedia.co.za THE REPRESENTATIVE 10 November 2017 Highway community lose case SIMTEMBILE MGIDI MEMBERS of the Ezibeleni community who allegedly illegally occupied land in Ezibeleni known as Highway, lost their case in the Grahamstown High Court on October 19. The interim interdict which prevented further occupation of the land thus became final. The land in question includes erven 2020, 3774 and 2049 in Ezibeleni and Erf 163 in Komani. Highway legal representative S Modi Attorneys director Sithembele Modi did not appear at the high court on October 19. EFF councillor Luthando Amos said the party had been shocked by Modi’s absence. “The EFF committed itself to pay all legal costs. It was a surprise that Threat of action against EMLM looms he did not submit any of the papers that were supposed to be filed.” He said the EFF was “processing the mat ter” with its legal representatives to continue with the case. A meeting would also be held with the Highway communit y. Modi said he could not comment on the case, as he had withdrawn his services as a representative of the community of Highway. “I had met with the people of Ezibeleni and withdrew my services before they went to court and that is all I can say concerning the case.” Highway committee member Phumlani Cetyiwe said the High Court outcome did not implicate them. “The heading of the interdict says all people attempting to occupy land. Our advocates had a briefing with us in Grahamstown and informed us that this meant people attempting to occupy the land. “We are already occupying the land so this does not apply to us. The municipality must get an interdict that says people who are already occupying the land if they want that.” Cetyiwe said they had evidence that the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) had no council resolution for an interdict to be used to evacuate members of the Highway community. Sewage puddle outrage ANDISA BONANI ENKULULEKWENI ward 16 residents are faced with a puddle of stinking sewage in their midst. The sewage is believed to be emanating from a leak in an underground septic tank. Ward councillor Bulelwa Rani said the problem first occurred in June and was reported to Chris Hani District Municipalit y’s technical services department. “I sent pictures to a municipal representative and technical services personnel came and sucked up the liquid and graded the streets. The same thing has happened again and the municipality came to the area and took pictures. We are still waiting for something to be done.” Resident Siphokazi Wana said the pool of sewage lay in the road in front of her house. “Every day we wake to the GROSS STENCH: A dog drinking from a pool of sewage liquid resulting from a burst sewerage tank in Enkululekweni Picture: ANDISA BONANI disgusting smell. We walk past this puddle and sometimes children play in it, which is a huge problem for parents. Dogs also drink from it and they have become sick as a result.” Residents had decided to barricade the street to prevent cars from passing through as vehicles were splashing the s e wa g e . Nomaliviwe Conana, the mother of a toddler, said many children had developed rashes believed to be related to the pollution. The Rep visited the area and found a dog drinking from the puddle. Rani said Enkululekweni was ridden with bad sewerage infrastructure, with regular complaints about burst pipes. CHDM spokeswoman Thobeka Mqamelo said, “Our team is on site to attend to the blockage. The affected area will be treated with chemicals to contain the stench.” The area was plagued by constant blockages which were attended to as they were repor ted. “The recurrence is attributed to a storm water drainage system that needs attention. We are interacting with Enoch Mgijima in this regard to ensure resolution of the mat ter,” Mqamelo said. “We are going to open a case against the municipality for illegally demolishing 35 informal settlements without any order or evacuation being given by the court.” He said EMLM executive mayor Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsha had not met with the community. The community would also not comment on why Modi had not appeared in court. Megan de Wet of Bowes McDougall Incorporated, which represented EMLM in court, said the court order was in full e f fe c t . “The result of the order of court is that the interim interdict granted on July 25 is now final and absolute. Any further occupation of land is unlawful. The SAPS have the authority to give effect to the order and the municipality may take legal steps against the unlawful occupiers. “We were successful in our case due to proper preparation and having applied the law appropriately. The respondents did not have a defence to oppose the application, nor did they file their opposing affidavits which were due on September 4.” The High Court ruling indicated that Modi, who filed a notice of withdrawal on October 18, should indicate in an affidavit on or before November 2, why an order of costs should not be issued against him for the reserved costs of August 15 and the October 19 costs. The applicant was given until November 9 to file its replying affidavit. PROUD ACHIEVEMENT: Portfolio head of health and community services at the Chris Hani District Municipality Noncedo September-Caba with the awards for the implementation of extended public works programmes at the Kamoso Awards ceremony in Grahamstown Picture: SIMTEMBILE MGIDI BUSINESSES SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY CONSCIOUS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUSPECTS SIMPLY GRABBING STOCK ON DISPLAY AND RUNNING AWAY WITH THE GOODS. 35 Ebden Street, Komani Tel: 045 839 7228 | 044 010 0541 | Fax: 045 838 2430 Officers remove knifeman from bank RED Guard response officers removed a man, believed to have been under the influence of liquor and who was threatening staff with a knife, from a bank in the Komani CBD last We d n e s d ay. Red Guard operations manager Willie Reynecke said on the same day, a man who had tried to buy goods with a fake R100 note, was apprehended at a Komani store and handed over to the police. Officers, reacting to an alarm at a local business, apprehended two suspects who allegedly tried to break in through the roof. The owner declined to open a case and the suspects were released. Officers, attending to an alarm at a Cacadu home, chased two suspects but were unable to apprehend them. They recovered household goods which was handed back to the o w n e r. At the weekend, the officers attended to 18 panic signals at liquor premises where they had to remove patrons who were causing problems. – Rep repor ter OLIVET COLLEGE Ad vitam paramus NO. 7 - 9 SCANLEN STREET, QUEENSTOWN. TEL / FAX: 045 838 2072 2018 ADMISSIONS OPEN Grade R Foundation Phase (1 - 3) Intermediate Phase (4 - 6) Senior Phase (7 - 9) FET - Only Grade 10 ¿ ¿ Vandalism, theft plague CHDM Waste Water Works SONJA RAASCH THE Chris Hani District Municipality has indicated that it is battling continuous theft and vandalism at its Waste Water Treatment Works, particularly at the main pump station outside town on the road to Whittlesea. The Rep received complaints from residents in the area that the foul stench coming from the sewerage works was making it unpleasant to live nearby. In her response this week, spokesman Thobeka Mqamelo said the theft and vandalism were affecting the optimal functioning of the plant. She said cables, inlet valves, cross conveyors, floats and covers were targeted by vandals. A contractor had been secured to replace the missing parts and monitoring of the line was in progress to detect the impact of the theft and vandalism. “Areas where a spillage has been evident are being treated to contain the stench. We are treating this as an emergency.“ The number of security officers would also be increased to ensure the site was under guard. 21 NOVEMBER 2017 Dr Christiane-(Wendy), 41 Grey Street, 045 838 1671 Madeira Old Age Home, Sr Bosch, 045 839 5428 Dave 083 460 6503
THE REPRESENTATIVE 10 November 2017 Tel: (045) 839-4040 Emergency: (A/H) 083-272-0955 ° Editorial: sonjar@timesmedia.co.za - advertising: charodinev@timesmedia.co.za 3 CROWNED ONCE AGAIN: Qoqodalabor n Ya n e l i s a B o k ve l d has been c r ow n e d as Miss TUT 2017-18 in Pretoria Picture: SUPPLIED Komani’s own Ya n e l i s a crowned as Miss TUT 2017 SIVENATHI GOSA MISS Queenstown 2017 and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student Yanelisa Bokveld has been crowned Miss TUT 2017-18 in Pretoria. The hospitality student is no stranger to the ramp and participated in the Miss Teen Commonwealth South Africa earlier this year. She has been announced as the ambassador of the Miss TUT pageant 2017-18. “A part of me still does not believe it. It is an amazing feeling, but I am honoured.” Bokveld said 20 contestants competed for the title. She said the participants had to do presentations and activities for Heritage Day, all within a short period of time, which was st ressful. “This journey encourages independence. I am grateful to be given such a platform to inspire and empower and I pray that by the end of my reign I will look back and feel proud about what I have done for individuals and the institution at large.” Her favourite moments during the pageant were the bonding sessions as she enjoys interacting with people. Bokveld said she was hoping to try out for Miss South Africa. “The pageant world is not an easy one, but it gives you a platform to touch lives and a positive manner. “Do not ever compare yourself with anyone else because it is your uniqueness that captures the attention of the judges.” Halt to Ezibeleni family’s eviction ANDISA BONANI AN EZIBELENI family of six was saved from eviction from an RDP house at the last minute this week. The family has been renting the home from someone, believed not to be the real owner, since June last year. Amanda Mkile, who lives in the house with her parents and three siblings, said the woman from whom they rent the house told the family to move out in August. The Mkile family had been struggling to afford the R500 rent. Instead, they were told to move to another house where the rental would be R650 per month. “My parents refused to move to the other house as we can not afford it. Ward councillor Mzikabawo Ngesi told us he had called people from the municipality to find out who the real owner of the house was.” Mkile said they were told by Ngesi that they could not continue to live in the house with their elderly parents as there was no electricity. He offered to find them an alternative place to stay and to help them move. But, Mkile said, the woman from whom they were renting, said Ngesi had agreed that they should be evicted – a claim which Ngesi has denied, saying that he had instead told the family to ensure they paid for service charges. When The Rep arrived on the scene, the family’s belongings had WE WILL NOT MOVE: Senior citizen Nunuse Mlale sits in the house he is renting with his family in Ezibeleni Picture: SIMTEMBILE MGIDI been moved back into the house with the help of EFF councillor Luthando Amos. The reporter could not identify the actual person to whom rent was being paid as there was a group of women who would not give their names. Amos said he was doing his regular rounds a while back when he saw a house using candlelight and decided to find out what was happening since other houses had p o w e r. “The family told me they were renting but did not have electricity, so I went to the municipality to enquire about the owner of the house after I heard rumours that it belonged to someone currently based in Cape Town.” Mkile said they were awaiting feedback from Amos who said he would try to facilitate a meeting with the owner once he found out who it was. Human Settlements manager Liseka Bam had also allegedly visited the home but could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
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Page 5 and 6: Long journey to health still ahead
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The Rep 10 November 2017

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