About 15 families living in a caravan park near Jeffreys Bay are facing possible eviction and relocation after setting up their homes at the camping ground more than 10 years ago.
Living in tents and other makeshift structures at the overgrown Aston Bay Caravan Park, the families insist it is the best place for them to stay because the relocation would result in them moving 28km away — far from work and schools.
The families were notified of the possible eviction and relocation by the Kouga municipality about a month ago after the department of public works asked for assistance.
However, they are adamant they are not going anywhere and that relocating to Kruisfontein would add an unnecessary burden to their lives.
Kouga’s deputy mayor, Hattingh Bornman, said the department had asked the municipality to assist with land for the relocation.
The first family set up camp in the caravan park in 2009, with more following. About 60 people are living there.
Bornman said nearby residents had complained about the informal structures built at the park and a spike in crime.
“It is a difficult situation to handle.
“We understand the social effect, and there are children living there, but as the municipality the only thing we were asked to do is supply available land,” he said.
He said the municipality had no available land in Jeffreys Bay but only in Kruisfontein.
The public works department would be responsible for the relocation.
Bornman said there was no eviction at this stage.
“The municipality is not the role-player in this.
“But since 2019 and 2020 the number of people occupying the land has been growing rapidly,” he said.
Public works spokesperson Sisanda George said the department could not comment at this stage but would investigate and report back on Monday.
“We are still investigating and will engage the municipality to find all the facts,” George said.
Belinda Venter, 36, a mother of four children, said she had lost her job and husband during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To survive, she sold all the family’s belonging to buy materials to build a shelter after moving into the park in February.
“I don’t know what will happen to my children or their schooling.
“How will I provide for them, because I rely on piece jobs in town to survive?”
Venter said if she had the money or means to leave the park she would.
Jolani van der Merwe, 45, said she had moved in with her fiancé, Keith Schaper, 64, last year after her mother sold the house they had lived in.
She survives by trading at markets and selling chillies in Jeffreys Bay.
Moving to Kruisfontein, she said, would destroy her business.
Van der Merwe said most of the families kept the park clean and maintained, but a criminal element had moved in.
“That is out of our hands.”
Francois van der Merwe, 56, said he had been living in the park for eight years and had paid rent at one stage.
“There was a man operating the park but he just disappeared and we continued to live here.
“We are comfortable and close to town.”
He said moving would be difficult because people would struggle to secure jobs.
The families share a communal bathroom, with most sleeping in tents covered with blankets.
Wanda Anderson, 52, who has been living at the park for two years, said most of the residents were pensioners and could barely afford to rent a house.
“They just want to dump us there. We have done nothing wrong.
“We are here because we can’t afford life anywhere else.
Aston Bay neighbourhood watch and ratepayer association member Kobus Mulder said it was in a predicament due to concern about the residents’ wellbeing.
He said the park had been leased out before.
Mulder said crime in the area got worse in October.
“There was a meeting and a visit that happened last year, fortunately, joined by the MEC of public works, Babalo Madikizela, who informed them they needed to move as there were no basic services.”
Mulder said there were a couple of good people living in the park, but he suspected some of the others were involved in criminal activities.
“This is difficult for us too.
“We pay rates and a lot of money to stay here and now our property values are decreasing.
“There has been land identified for them, with schools nearby,” he said.
HeraldLIVE