Bapsfontein sinkhole riots

[wrathex]

28 December 2010
BBC News

Residents of a shanty town in South Africa have clashed with police over attempts to relocate them after huge sinkholes began to appear nearby.

Hundreds of those living in Bapsfontein, near Pretoria, burned tyres and threw stones, as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

Authorities have begun to demolish homes in the area, saying the land is no longer fit for human settlement.

Officials want to relocate 3,000 families from the region.

The depressions are said to be the result of a massive extraction of water by farms in the area, causing underground caverns to collapse.

Municipality officials have said the informal settlement is in a dangerous area and that families must be relocated as soon as possible.

They have said that residents had given their consent to be moved.
'Demolishing shacks'
Firefighters put out fires in Bapsfontein (Tshepo Lesole/Eyewitness News) Officials say Bapsfontein is not safe for human settlement (Tshepo Lesole/Eyewitness News)

But Imraan Karolia, a journalist from South Africa's Talk Radio 702, said the municipality was basically saying "that these people will move whether they like it or not".

"Police opened fire with rubber bullets, threatening to take residents and arrest them and this directive came from the Ekurhuleni municipality, saying they aren't there to play any games," Mr Karolia told the BBC.

"Their trucks are busy demolishing shacks and taking all of the shelter to the other area," he added.

The BBC's Africa editor Martin Plaut says the 3,000 residents are demanding new homes in an area that is not only safe, but also free from flooding.

Some of the sinkholes are more than 80m (263ft) across, and cracks now run throughout the area, he says.

On Monday, Zweli Dlamini, a spokesman for the Ekurhuleni municipality, told the BBC that "the situation is so bad that there are several sinkholes that have formed around the area".

He said the area around the informal settlement had been categorised as unsafe because of the possibility of the sinkhole "swallowing that piece of land".

Underground water was increasing the danger to a degree that gave authorities no choice but to order an immediate evacuation, he added.

 

[MickeyD]

It must be those bladdy DA agents stirring them up again!

 

[LazyLion]

wth? if they don't want to be moved... then get them to sign an indemnity and leave them there to die.

Same with those idiots who insist on building their shacks right on the banks of the Jukskei river.

 

[MickeyD]

Hout Bay fire breaks.... deja vu all over again?

 

[TJ99]

wth? if they don't want to be moved... then get them to sign an indemnity and leave them there to die.

Same with those idiots who insist on building their shacks right on the banks of the Jukskei river.

For once, I agree with you. If they want to stay there, let the ****ing ****s be swallowed by the sinkholes. Why the hell should you beg someone to move them for free to a safe place?

 

[Maddmatt]

Just leave them and let the sinkholes do their job. The ones that aren't too thick and leave can be offered shelter in the area they're supposed to move to.
Why do we bother to help those that do not want help?

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Its elections in a couple of months time with a bunch of politicians running around screaming "My Studio is bigga than yours!"

 

[Sly21C]

Judging from comments I've read here, which are scary and retarded to say the least. I'm glad the DA isn't in power. We don't want those "idiots" to be left there to "die" in the sinkholes now do we?. The ANC government is risking losing a few votes in municipal elections next year by removing people from harms way into a safer place. You guys with your apartheid (arquired) money with your big mouths, in your nice mansion (in your gated community) nicely insulated from the rest of SA think people's lives are expendable? Well the ANC will not listen to your human rights abuse mentality which is engraved in your DNA I might add. You guys refuse to understand these people's viewpoint, you make judgements in your air-conditioned rooms after reading/watching the news produced by the media who usually don't tell the whole story since their main mendate is to sell newspapers at the expense of oxygen emmiting trees. In case you guys don't know, the Bapsfontein residence are PEOPLE, or should I say HUMAN BEINGS, maybe'll understand better. Human beings have a right to live despite their lack of economic contribution to SA. And on top of all that you guys expect the majority to vote for the DA? Where's the logic in that?

 

[Mila]

Its elections in a couple of months time with a bunch of politicians running around screaming "My Studio is bigga than yours!"

I think they are making the sinkhole's up.. They have been trying for years to get those people to move to the houses that were built for them, they did not want to as it is farther away from their work.. Tell them the holes will swallow them is making then leave.

I wonder if the "unwanted" elements ( criminals and illegals) are not behind riots like this, fear of being caught?

 

[MickeyD]

Judging from comments I've read here, which are scary and retarded to say the least. I'm glad the DA isn't in power. We don't want those "idiots" to be left there to "die" in the sinkholes now do we?. The ANC government is risking losing a few votes in municipal elections next year by removing people from harms way into a safer place. You guys with your apartheid (arquired) money with your big mouths, in your nice mansion (in your gated community) nicely insulated from the rest of SA think people's lives are expendable? Well the ANC will not listen to your human rights abuse mentality which is engraved in your DNA I might add. You guys refuse to understand these people's viewpoint, you make judgements in your air-conditioned rooms after reading/watching the news produced by the media who usually don't tell the whole story since their main mendate is to sell newspapers at the expense of oxygen emmiting trees. In case you guys don't know, the Bapsfontein residence are PEOPLE, or should I say HUMAN BEINGS, maybe'll understand better. Human beings have a right to live despite their lack of economic contribution to SA. And on top of all that you guys expect the majority to vote for the DA? Where's the logic in that?

Oh, the irony!! Chip on shoulder much? Any proof that the ANC has a better human rights' record than the DA or any other current political party?

The reference to the Hout Bay (Hangklip) affair is directly related to this... go read about about - the newcomers there built their dwellings in the firebreaks and were asked to move. Note that it was NOT the existing community that was affected. If they were allowed to remain and a fire broke out, their lives would have been at risk. Sound familiar?

 

[Pilgrim]

Guys, they are not demanding to stay, so none of this "if they want to stay let them die" BS please.

What I do find interesting is that they now use this disaster to demand something new:

The BBC's Africa editor Martin Plaut says the 3,000 residents are demanding new homes in an area that is not only safe, but also free from flooding.

From what I read they are in a shanty town. They are there because that was where they set up their shacks. Now that the area is unsafe they demand new homes in a better area?

Entitlement. Gota love it.

 

[davemc]

Dolomite.

 

[Pegging]

Judging from comments I've read here, which are scary and retarded to say the least. I'm glad the DA isn't in power. We don't want those "idiots" to be left there to "die" in the sinkholes now do we?. The ANC government is risking losing a few votes in municipal elections next year by removing people from harms way into a safer place. You guys with your apartheid (arquired) money with your big mouths, in your nice mansion (in your gated community) nicely insulated from the rest of SA think people's lives are expendable? Well the ANC will not listen to your human rights abuse mentality which is engraved in your DNA I might add. You guys refuse to understand these people's viewpoint, you make judgements in your air-conditioned rooms after reading/watching the news produced by the media who usually don't tell the whole story since their main mendate is to sell newspapers at the expense of oxygen emmiting trees. In case you guys don't know, the Bapsfontein residence are PEOPLE, or should I say HUMAN BEINGS, maybe'll understand better. Human beings have a right to live despite their lack of economic contribution to SA. And on top of all that you guys expect the majority to vote for the DA? Where's the logic in that?

Are you describing the black middle class and black elite there?

 

[Ricard]

wth? if they don't want to be moved... then get them to sign an indemnity and leave them there to die.

Same with those idiots who insist on building their shacks right on the banks of the Jukskei river.

I think they are making the sinkhole's up.. They have been trying for years to get those people to move to the houses that were built for them, they did not want to as it is farther away from their work.. Tell them the holes will swallow them is making then leave.

I wonder if the "unwanted" elements ( criminals and illegals) are not behind riots like this, fear of being caught?

The area has been blocked off for about 10 years... there are abandoned houses and hotels that were declared unstable; and as a result the place turned in to a ghost town.

The squatters thought was a nice place to shack up... overnight the place turned in to a settlement. The sinkholes are not new - the people there ARE.

 

[Ronjay]

Judging from comments I've read here, which are scary and retarded to say the least. I'm glad the DA isn't in power.

Um, I didn't know Gary and company where the DA. Yeah, there are morons on MyBB who can't see past there nose, but they are just supporters and in no way are they policy makers for the DA. So how exactly is it the DA saying leave them to die?

We don't want those "idiots" to be left there to "die" in the sinkholes now do we?

Of course not.

. The ANC government is risking losing a few votes in municipal elections next year by removing people from harms way into a safer place.

Um, did you just type that. Sounds really stupid doesn't it. Only in SA I guess.

/shrugs shoulders.

I'd have thought it would be a golden opportunity to cement votes by "removing people from harms way into a safer place" as you put it.

You guys with your apartheid (arquired) money with your big mouths, in your nice mansion (in your gated community) nicely insulated from the rest of SA think people's lives are expendable?

LOL, do you really think all DA supporters are rich people living in mansions and what not.

Well the ANC will not listen to your human rights abuse mentality which is engraved in your DNA I might add.

That is the most racist thing I've heard in a long time. What you are suggesting is that people have a specific view point because of their genetics. Not nice.

You guys refuse to understand these people's viewpoint, you make judgements in your air-conditioned rooms after reading/watching the news produced by the media who usually don't tell the whole story since their main mendate is to sell newspapers at the expense of oxygen emmiting trees.

Huh.

You ANC supporters should learn to think before you type. Wasn't it a few months ago that you lot were throwing toys out cots because the DA was trying to do something similar in Hangklip?

 

[Mila]

The area has been blocked off for about 10 years... there are abandoned houses and hotels that were declared unstable; and as a result the place turned in to a ghost town.

The squatters thought was a nice place to shack up... overnight the place turned in to a settlement. The sinkholes are not new - the people there ARE.

The people are not that new. 10 years are not new. This is the first time I have heard about the sink holes.
Just saying that is not a bad excuse to move the people to better accomodation.

 

[satanboy]

...LOL, do you really think all DA supporters are rich people living in mansions and what not....

I don't want to derail the thread, but the majority of DA supporters I know are poor (low income) conservatives.

Maybe these poor "rioters" have not been properly informed regarding the sinkholes.

 

[Ronjay]

I don't want to derail the thread, but the majority of DA supporters I know are poor (low income) conservatives.

Maybe these poor "rioters" have not been properly informed regarding the sinkholes.

I was asking that question because the guy clearly thinks that all DA supporters are rich. Which is clearly not the case.

I don't know, maybe. I know that if it was me, I'd be out of there yesterday already. I've seen what sinkholes can do.

 

[zulgin]

Judging from comments I've read here, which are scary and retarded to say the least. I'm glad the DA isn't in power. We don't want those "idiots" to be left there to "die" in the sinkholes now do we?. The ANC government is risking losing a few votes in municipal elections next year by removing people from harms way into a safer place. You guys with your apartheid (arquired) money with your big mouths, in your nice mansion (in your gated community) nicely insulated from the rest of SA think people's lives are expendable? Well the ANC will not listen to your human rights abuse mentality which is engraved in your DNA I might add. You guys refuse to understand these people's viewpoint, you make judgements in your air-conditioned rooms after reading/watching the news produced by the media who usually don't tell the whole story since their main mendate is to sell newspapers at the expense of oxygen emmiting trees. In case you guys don't know, the Bapsfontein residence are PEOPLE, or should I say HUMAN BEINGS, maybe'll understand better. Human beings have a right to live despite their lack of economic contribution to SA. And on top of all that you guys expect the majority to vote for the DA? Where's the logic in that?

you do realize that it is not so much about them dying in the sinkholes - its about them contaminating the water table which runs through the dolomite sinkhole meaning they risk a collera outbreak. I don't expect the ANC or any of their supporter to know this the educational system failed to teach them this. So which violation is the biggest, removing someone from their home and relocating them to a safer place or risking a collera and disease outbreak meaning the entire town might die? Is this what they taught the youth at those ANCYL conferences? I guess common sense is engraved in my DNA (I am not sure how you come to that conclusion)

 

[LazyLion]

Judging from comments I've read here, which are scary and retarded to say the least. I'm glad the DA isn't in power. We don't want those "idiots" to be left there to "die" in the sinkholes now do we?. The ANC government is risking losing a few votes in municipal elections next year by removing people from harms way into a safer place. You guys with your apartheid (arquired) money with your big mouths, in your nice mansion (in your gated community) nicely insulated from the rest of SA think people's lives are expendable? Well the ANC will not listen to your human rights abuse mentality which is engraved in your DNA I might add. You guys refuse to understand these people's viewpoint, you make judgements in your air-conditioned rooms after reading/watching the news produced by the media who usually don't tell the whole story since their main mendate is to sell newspapers at the expense of oxygen emmiting trees. In case you guys don't know, the Bapsfontein residence are PEOPLE, or should I say HUMAN BEINGS, maybe'll understand better. Human beings have a right to live despite their lack of economic contribution to SA. And on top of all that you guys expect the majority to vote for the DA? Where's the logic in that?

Of course we don't want them in harm's way. But in case your ANC coloured glasses did not allow you to notice it, these protesters are putting other people's lives at risk (those that are trying to re-locate them to a safe area and their own families and children).

So as I said, if the situation has been explained to them, and they refuse to move, then let them sign a release and leave them where they want to be.

No sense in wasting money, resources and other people's safety on those people who willingly want to endanger themselves.