There is no solution on the horizon for the RDP housing crisis in Alexandra with tensions rising daily.
This follows a decision of the Petitions Committee of the City of Johannesburg to defer a meeting which was scheduled to have taken place on 28 July. The meeting was an endeavour to try and resolve housing issues which have been ongoing since 2010 following the allocation of RDP houses.
The committee is now expected to meet sometime in August according to Democratic Alliance councillor Shadrack Mkhonto.
The tension regarding housing in the K206 Settlement’s extensions 9 and 10 arose from the improper allocation of duplex houses in the area in 2010 by the then-Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP), which has now been incorporated into the Johannesburg Development Agency.
When ARP allocated the duplexes, which had two attached rooms at ground level, it created a tenant and landlord system among people of similar socio-economic backgrounds.
The RDP duplexes were owned by individuals, while the two ground floor rooms were allocated to tenants for a five-year period.
The tenants were ordered to pay rent of about R350 to the so-called landlord, and after five years the tenants would be relocated to new housing projects.
The five-year contract agreement has lapsed and the owners of the duplexes have filed a petition with the City demanding they evict the tenants who have not been co-operative, and have not stuck to the agreement to pay the monthly rental of R350.
In response, the tenants have filed a counter petition demanding that they be given title deeds to the controversial rooms or be found alternative accommodation as they are not prepared to pay the R350 monthly rental.
According to Mkhonto, the committee will meet in August with a view to finding a permanent solution to the problem, and will expect housing MMC Dan Bovu to provide a comprehensive plan for the thorny issue.
Details: Shadrack Mkhonto 079 444 1464.
