Alex councillor Adolph Marema encouraged the government to consider invoking the anticipated law on land expropriation without compensation as a test case to resolving the housing crisis in Alex.
He suggested the government expropriate the unused land which the University of the Witwatersrand has owned in Frankenwald since 1922.
Marema was referring to the massive stretch of land between Marlboro and Buccleuch which is at the centre of random running battles between the Metro police and Alex residents who attempt to occupy it.
Read: #ToDo: Lost Land
He said this showed that political will has been lacking in city administration since 1994 [when South Africa’s first democratic elections took place] due to the slow pace of negotiation in the acquisition of this land.
“There is a need for firm political will and strategy to acquire the land after attempts elsewhere have failed, resulting in anger among desperate home seekers who have been on the housing waiting list for more than 20 years,” Marema said.
Wits informed the council of their plan to develop a housing scheme on the land for rental to raise money for fees for needy students but, Marema rebuffed the plan by Wits alleging that it was a ploy to hold on to the land which has been unused for more than a century.
He said those on the waiting list earned a low income or were unemployed and would not be able to pay rent.
Read: ANC’s expropriation of land without compensation is dangerous – FF Plus
“Council prefers a mixed development option of RDP houses and high-rise buildings for the thousands on the waiting list and, a few homes for rent or purchase under an affordable scheme.”
He urged for a study to be conducted on the land to determine its capacity and number of RDP houses which could be built on it and, for Wits to be informed of the possibility to invoke the expropriation option. “This as council’s engagement on the land with Wits continues,” Marema said.
Marema also asked the council to expedite work on the dilapidated Madala and Helen Joseph hostels. “The multi-million rand allocation in the 2017/18 financial year for the rehabilitation and conversion into family dwellings should be used immediately to show political will.”
He implored government and city housing departments to restore the dignity of poor residents by giving them decent shelter.
Details: Councillor Adolph Marema 079 617 1957.
