By Mr Lee
news@alexreporter.co.za
Jane Mogale (47), a community activist in Setjwetla, Alex, has been staying in a small room with her extended family of 10 people for many years.
Mogale, originally from Limpopo, stayed in Setjwetla since 2021. The unbearable overcrowding in her room left her with no choice but to look for an alternative space nearby.
Last December, she saw a space and erected a shack. However, in January, all hell broke loose when certain members of the community saw the shack.
They alleged that she removed the toilets without talking to them and the toilets ( bucket system) were taken back by the owners, leaving some residents to allegedly relieve themselves in the Juskei River. The members have decided to build alternative toilets.
Two residents were allegedly robbed at gunpoint when they went to relieve themselves at the river. That allegedly caused more anger and the furious group tore down the shack.
Evans Masekane, the chairperson of the committee in Setjwetla, said they removed Mogale’s shack after following the procedures.
Mogale reported the matter to Bramely police and three residents were arrested. They appeared in Alexandra Magistrate’s court on Thursday , but were denied bail.
The group became even more angry due to the arrests. They allegedly entered Mogale’s home by force, broke a door, damaged the room, and ordered her to relocate with her kids.
Her 19-year-old daughter told Alex Reporter that they had to sleep at Bramely police station after being chased out of their home by the group.
According to her, her mom took up space near the Setjwetla bridge because she was desperate. She said the group reported the issue to other leaders so that they could be assisted by JMPD in removing the shack.
But due to their month-long stay in the shack, the community leaders allegedly said it was no longer easy to remove them.
” The group decided to remove the toilets near our shack to somewhere else so that they could also occupy the space. But their plan failed because there were too many people and the space was not enough to accommodate them all.
“One day when we woke up, we found the toilets being pushed down to the Juskei. So the company that owns the toilets took them away.
“Then they decided to demolish my mom’s shack because the toilets were taken. What surprises me is that my mom’s shack was the only one wrecked while there are many people occupying space in the graveyard who have not been removed,” said the girl.
She said that on February 27th, her mom opened a case against the culprits. After three were arrested, the same group went to the police station to protest so that they could be released.
“When that failed, they came back and damaged the room that we stay in, demanding that my mom release those people from the police custody..
“Now we are stranded without any place to stay. The kids are traumatized and the group said it doesn’t want us anymore there.
“The only thing we need is shelter and SAPS to address this matter. The police are claiming that this thing is being done by the community and that it’s not true because we can identify the culprits.
“The police are afraid of Setwetla people. There’s no way these people can be against one person.”
The family slept at Bramely police station before they were offered temporary shelter by Rachel from PCO.
If you are interested in helping the stranded family, please contact 0724363102.
