Hekpoort, a peaceful town in Gauteng’s Cradle of Humankind, is now caught in crisis. Residents say their once quiet area is falling apart, with rising crime and environmental damage pushing them to breaking point.
Attorney Christopher Bean, speaking to BizNews, described the situation as out of control. He says locals are now turning to the courts after officials failed to act.
How It Started: Sewage Leak Sparks Legal Action
The problem began after people noticed waste spilling into the river. On the way to the dam, the river touches farms and homes.
People asked questions, but Mogale City stayed silent. So, they went to the High Court to force a response.
What they uncovered was far more serious.
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Thousands Expected to Arrive in Rural Settlement
In court papers, Mogale City admitted to building 208 houses in Hekpoort. But they also revealed that up to 36,000 people were expected to move into the area.
Bean says this number will overwhelm the local systems. There are already over 150,000 people living in five informal settlements nearby.
“There is no work here. The schools are full. The clinic only visits once a week,” he said. “This is not a place that can support thousands more people.”
Crime Surge Leaves Residents Terrified
Locals say crime is now part of daily life. One holiday resort was hit by 12 armed robberies in 12 months.
Farm owners are now constantly armed, and illegal miners (Zama Zamas) are operating in the nearby mountains.
Bean warns that crime will only rise. “Most of these people have no jobs or income. Desperation is growing,” he said.
Promises Broken, Tensions Growing
Residents were promised housing years ago for farm workers and resort staff. That promise was made in 2010, but the city has refused to share the list of who will get homes.
Locals fear outsiders will be favoured. Some say they will burn the houses down if that happens. Bean thinks people are angry because they do not trust the system.
He said this area is a UNESCO site, and poor planning could harm it.
A Call for Dialogue and National Reform
Despite the tension, Bean says there is still hope. He wants the city to meet with residents to find a better solution.
“We are working on a proposal,” he said. “We do not want another squatter camp. We want a plan that could be used across South Africa.”
He also defended the people being moved in. “This is not their fault. They were brought here with no support or plan.”
No Response from Mogale City
So far, Mogale City has not replied to any questions.
The community is still waiting, as fear and anger slowly grow.
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Hi, I’m Amandeep Singh, a content writer at Ramnath Intercollage. I share updates on jobs, internships, and scholarships across South Africa using official and trusted sources. My aim is to make every post easy to read and helpful for anyone looking to apply.
