Alexandra’s Extension 9 and 10, a ‘hot potato to be settled to avert bloodbath’
ALEXANDRA – After the failure of the City of Johannesburg to resolve the issue of landlord and tenants in extensions 9 and 10, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature has vowed to come up with a solution.
The Gauteng Legislature’s Petitions Standing Committee has vowed to settle ‘the hot potato of extensions 9 and 10 once and for all to avert a bloodbath’ following hearings at a special sitting of the legislature at the East Bank Hall in Alexandra on 31 March and 1 April.
After hearing both sides of the story from the landlords and tenants, committee chairperson, Refilwe Mogale, requested that an inspection in loco of the sites be conducted so members of the Provincial Legislature can familiarise themselves with the dispute issues and the setup, which has caused untold misery to both sides since 2009. This after government moving shack dwellers along the banks of the Jukskei River ahead of the Fifa 2010 World Cup.
She suggested that the site inspection be conducted within 14 days, which has been set as the target time by which the committee will meet again with a view of bringing all the parties to the dispute, which include the landlords, tenants, the Alexandra Renewal Project, the City of Johannesburg’s Housing Department and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements.
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“I want the committee to ensure this matter is settled once and for all, with the urgency it deserves as we don’t want to see a bloodbath, which has been painted to us here today,” Mogale said. She implored her committee members and the affected parties to ensure they avail themselves to the inspection in loco and the day of further hearings to find a solution.
She assured agitated members of both sides, who had indicated that life was unbearable in the community and that a bloodbath was in the offing if the matter was not treated as urgent, adding that her committee would do everything possible to expedite the matter. However, she said it would not be proper to make a ruling when the time comes if they had not inspected the area and reviewed that problems in extensions 9 and 10.
“As the committee, we also need to familiarise ourselves with the nature of the dispute by physically going to see said places, so that whatever solution we come to, must be a solution that will work for all and take away the nightmares that have been cast upon the residents,” she said.
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“I can assure you that ourselves, as public representatives and you as petitioners, we’re on your side and what we seek is a just and equitable solution for all, and so please bear with us as we seek to find an amicable solution,” Mogale added.
Community liaison officer of the Alexandra Renewal Project, Sandile Mavundla appealed to the committee to ensure the South African Police Services, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and the City’s Building Control Department were present on the day.
No date has been set, but stakeholders will be advised.
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