Proposed housing development gives hope to the historically disadvantaged

The metro is proposing to build low-cost housing for the residents of Driefontein, which could potentially lead to the establishment of a new township that will be part of Boksburg.

Accompanied by a contingent of EMPD officers, municipal officials visited the Driefontein informal settlement, also known as Kwa-Gumede, and held their first meeting with community leaders on Sunday, February 12.

The tiny, quiet informal settlement is located between Delmore Gardens and the Angelo railway station.

The purpose of the three-hour informative meeting, also attended by the Advertiser, was to inform residents in the area about the proposed future use of the now city-owned parcel of land residents have been occupying since 1983.

Aubrey Mogotsi and Chauke Lovemore from the office of the Ekurhuleni MMC for Human Settlement, Lesiba Mpya, were among the officials in attendance.

Residents were told that the Ekurhuleni Metro late last year finally managed to procure the 47,33 hectares of land lying unused between Wit Deep Road and Delmore Gardens from the private owner, Living Africa Properties.

Following their success in acquiring the parcel of land, the speakers stated that the metro’s next step is to develop it for the historically disadvantaged residents of Driefontein and nearby settlements.

They also mentioned that, at this stage, the metro is still working on a comprehensive plan to establish a township for deserving people of the area.

Officials explained that their biggest challenge was to get the land, and added that because that bridge has already been crossed – government programmes can be started.

ALSO READ: Police nab seven Delmore protesters

WATCH: Police fire stun grenades, rubber bullets at Delmore Gardens.

Residents were reminded that, for the project to become a success, the right process has to be followed.

The proposed housing development consists of RDPs and high-rise residential apartments (24 hectares), potential businesses (two hectares), possible community facilities (3.6 hectares) and open space for recreational facilities (11 hectares).

Some community leaders in the area appeared to be very pleased to hear about the prospect of moving from their current shacks made of corrugated iron as well as ‘mud-and-stick’ homes, to RDP houses.

They described it as a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile, other leaders expressed serious misgivings about the proposed development, arguing that the government is trying to pull the wool over their eyes in an attempt to prevent them from protesting against the relocation of flood victims from nearby squatter camps to their doorsteps.

The community of Driefontein were among the hundreds of people who recently blockaded Commissioner Street in Delmore Gardens, protesting against the relocation of flood victims from other areas to Delmore Gardens.

Officials, however, stated that after the protests in question, the metro decided to stop placing the flood victims in Delmore Gardens.

The project, however, continues on the southern side of Commissioner Street, as this is not part of Delmore Gardens.

During the meeting, municipal officials also asked residents of Driefontein to give them permission to move some of the flood victims to their informal settlement.

Responding to the request, community leaders said they would like some time to consider the matter before they made a decision.

A public meeting will be held this Sunday to inform the whole community about the proposed plan. -@FanieFLK