Residents of Muledane and Shayandima whose homes were recently demolished by Thulamela Municipality say Freedom Day holds little meaning for them this year, as many have been left without shelter.
The demolition of more than 100 houses sparked outrage in the affected communities, with residents arguing that they were left destitute and without alternative accommodation. The aggrieved residents are alleged to have built illegally on land belonging to the municipality.
While the municipality has maintained its position on the demolitions and removals, residents insist the process was carried out without adequate notice and has deepened their hardship. The controversial demolitions, which drew widespread condemnation locally and nationally, took place on the morning of Friday, 17 April.
As thousands of South Africans celebrated the gains of freedom on Monday, some residents of Muledane and Shayandima sat in despair, wondering how to rebuild their lives after losing their homes.
Limpopo Mirror traced Ms Maggie Mudau, one of those affected, to a boarding house in Muledane, where she is now renting a room.
“I am confused, as you can see. Life has been very cruel to me. I have been going through a divorce when I heard about sites that were for sale. At the time, I believed God had heard my plea, and I quickly purchased a site. With the little funds I had, I managed to build a house where I settled with my children,” she said.
Her house was one of those destroyed.
“I never received any notice warning me that I was occupying the land illegally. The demolition caught me off guard, with no time to prepare. I only managed to salvage a few belongings. I am desperate, I can tell you. Schools will soon close for the winter recess, and I do not even know where I will house my children,” she said.
Mudau further expressed her disappointment in the municipality, describing its actions as heartless.
“Where is ubuntu here? A municipality flattening the homes of its own residents while there is already a huge housing backlog. Is this what we voted for?” she said.
Mudau said that while others were celebrating the gains of their votes, they were grieving.
“There is no freedom at all for us. This municipality is failing to address the poor state of the roads, yet it has bulldozers to demolish people’s houses. Some of us even think of the past government, because this situation is unbearable. But I can assure you, we will respond at the ballot box. Local government elections are just around the corner,” Mudau said.