Lesiba Mpya, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements, recently announced that residents of Glen Marikana informal settlement will be relocated to a new site in Putfontein on February 24.
This follows an eviction order granted by the Johannesburg High Court in November 2018, instructing the Ekurhuleni metro to seek an alternative residential site for the close to 3 000 residents who had illegally occupied private land on Dann Road in Kempton Park since 2017.
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“Our role as a responsible government is to comply with the court order and move our people to a safe and secure place. We are currently engaged in a verification process to ensure that every occupant’s name is the one that appears in the court order,” said Mpya.
The MMC also said work began in earnest in reblocking the new site so that when the new occupants arrive, they have access to roads, stand pipes and ablution facilities.
“We will provide transportation for the residents to make sure they settle very well in their new site, which they will call home,” he said.
The current structure which would be left behind after the relocation would be destroyed by the metro.
Samuel Motshali, one of the affected dwellers, praised the MMC for the insightful leadership in dealing with the matter.
“I am originally from Limpopo. I have been here for the past three years after losing my job and couldn’t afford to pay rent,” he said.
Community leader Kwena Monama said people will start packing their belongings on Saturday in readiness for the relocation on Monday.
“We are constantly communicating with the MMC’s office. We are ready to be moved to our new site,” he said.
