Description
Pomfret is a desert town located close to an old asbestos mine on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The town used to be under the former Molopo Local Municipality administration which has since been merged with former Kagisano Local Municipality to form what is now known as Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality NW “397”. Pomfret has an estimated 3 200 people and estimated 300 households.
In 2005, the Pomfret area was declared a health hazard by Government due to its location close to the asbestos mine. This declaration led Cabinet to take a resolution that the community must be relocated and integrated with rest of the South African society. In the interim, the national Government resolved to hand over the maintenance and control of Pomfret town to the national Department of Public Works. Subsequently, in 2008 a decision was taken to relocate the community of Pomfret to Zeerust and Mafikeng. The relocation process commenced where some of the community members were relocated, infrastructure maintenance and the provision of basic services was discontinued. However, some of the community members contested the relocation resolution in court and applied for an interdict. The interdict was granted in September 2008, which prevented Government from conducting the following activities:
Relocating any person from the town of Pomfret to any other location, Damaging, vandalizing or demolishing any habitable property in the town of Pomfret.
