Middelburg – Two villages in Middelburg are on the verge of collapse as Seriti Resources will be demolishing 400 houses in Naledi and Lesedi after Steve Tshwete Local Municipality allegedly refused to proclaim them.
The residents said attempts to encourage the mine to reach a friendly agreement failed, despite numerous meetings.
Xolani Dikeni, a housing committee member, said the mine indicated that the two villages are a liability. Dikeni added that the mine has switched off their electricity as a strategy to force them out. “We even proposed to pay R750 per household each month, for electricity but that offer was turned down as insufficient,” he said.
However, Seriti told Highveld Chronicle in its written response that it has “openly and transparently engaged with the villages’ housing committee” about its intention to demolish the villages and for people to vacate.”
The mine said the municipality refused to proclaim the villages. But had the municipality proclaimed the villages about a decade ago, according to a 2012 report from the municipality’s executive manager of corporate services, it appears as if the municipality would have needed to only invest at least R20 million to upgrade the services.
But the figure has seemingly mushroomed. “Seriti is no longer able to bear the financial burden associated with the maintenance and provision of services to these villages,” Seriti said. “The municipality has indicated that it is unwilling to accept the villages in their current condition, noting that approximately R500 million would be required to upgrade the infrastructure to municipal standards.”
The municipality would only agree to accept the donation of houses under two conditions: the infrastructure services must be improved to meet the municipality’s standards and that the upgrades should be completed prior to the transfer of the two villages.
These conditions appear to be steep for Seriti, thereby opting to summarily demolish the houses.
The villages’ infrastructure is currently dependent on Middelburg Mine Services (MMS), which has undergone significant restructuring, including the retrenchment of over 1,000 employees.
The villages, founded in 1980 to provide accommodation for the mine workers, have a population exceeding 2000 residents, and the mine is tasked with providing essential services, including water, sewage and electrical connection.
Dikeni said residents are reluctant to relocate due to the lack of other housing options available. However, Seriti said it considered all amiable options and in the absence of an agreement with the Municipality to proclaim the township, there was no viable alternative but to proceed with demolishing the structures.
Occupants were given adequate and extended notice over the past three years to seek alternative accommodation, the mine said.
