Lentswe, Klerksdorp - A court order issued last week against so-called trespassers or inciters at the new Village shopping centre that is being erected in Buffelsdoorn Road seems to have mostly been ignored. Work on the new shopping centre came to a standstill a bit more than two weeks ago when employees on the site were intimidated and chased away by the so-called Construction Mafia, who demanded jobs. Lentswe was told that the contractor feared for his life.
Work resumed after Resilient Properties and Klerksdorp Village Investments succeeded in getting a court order against trespassers at the site on August 14. The NW provincial commissioner of police and the station commander of Klerksdorp police station were also ordered to enforce law and order should trespassers not comply with the order.
Work at the construction site was interrupted again on Monday August 26 when a group of disgruntled people blocked the road with rocks, dumped sand on the road and protested. Those involved demanded to see the mayor. Lentswe was told that local SMME’s gathered to protest against not enough employment available for locals. According to one of the co-developers who wants to remain anonymous, the police turned up and intervened.
“This means the police acted on the instruction of the court order,” he said.
Delays like this cost the developers thousands of rand and also impacts on the completion of the project that is now only expected to be finished early next year while original plans was to open in December.
The developer said he is worried about the future of construction in Klerksdorp, as well as nationally, as they have various high-profile projects coming up, worth hundreds of millions.
“Something has to be done about these troublemakers. The government has to intervene,” he said.
