The Bloemfontein-based Mangaung Metro Municipality has come to the rescue of residents who were evicted from a plot, in ward 47.

Seven families were evicted from one of the plots in the Olive Hill Settlement this past weekend. The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements in Mangaung, Ntombi Nhlapho, led a team that went to help the families who were left homeless.

She said Mangaung Mayor Gregory Nthatisi gave them the directive to send trucks to assist the families who had nowhere to go after being evicted.

Mangaung Metro sent trucks to assist families evicted from Olive Hill. Photo: Screenshot

“We are here just to ensure security, to ensure the safety of our people. So that at least at night they can sleep in a secure place. This includes families with young children – we are going to ensure they are in a safe place,” she added.

Mangaung Metro's MMC for Human Settlement, Ntombi Nhlapho, assisting evicted residents. Photo: Screenshot

The families were relocated to a temporary shelter, where they will be staying until the municipality finalises plans to move them to a permanent place.

The mushrooming of informal settlements in the metro has raised eyebrows in recent months. Nthatisi insisted that foreign elements are at play when people forcefully take the land. He, however, said the municipality is working tirelessly to ensure there is alternative land where informal settlers will be moved to.

The South African Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said the government has allocated over R50 million under an urban development grant for residents of Botshabelo and around R60 million for the upgrading of informal settlements.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg