Byline: Thendo Buasi
Monday, 21 November 2022
The Executive Mayor of the Govan Mbeki municipality, Cllr Nhlakanipho Zuma, joined the Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi, at Holfontein farm in Trichardt to address the issue related to the settlement of residents on Tuesday, 15 November 2022.
According to Executive Mayor of GMM, Cllr Zuma, “The people were placed at Holfontein farm by a farmer without consultation with government and the land is not owned by the government.
However, the municipality committed itself to grading the roads to make them accessible for things like ambulances to be able to service the community”.
The municipality promised Holfontein farm residents to engage with the owner of the land to permanently transfer the land to community, but such will be done after the municipality together with Department of Human Settlement have consulted with relevant department on whether the land is habitable for the people, therefore if the place is not safe for people to stay all residents in Holfontein farm will be relocated to a safer area.
Now residents of Holfontein farm in Trichardt are breathing a sigh of relief as temporary toilets have been dispatched to the area to offer relief.
This will bring hygiene and sanitation relief to the growing community as the municipality vowed to install 260 temporary toilets until issue of township establishment is settled.
The Executive Mayor of the GMM was joined by the Chief Whip of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Mr Fidel Mlombo on Saturday, 19 November 2022 for an oversight to ensure that the government is held accountable during the installation of temporary toilets.
“The Govan Mbeki Municipality working with the department of Human Settlement will continue to improve service to all residents more especially the most vulnerable,” said Cllr Nhlakanipo Zuma.
