Undeveloped land must be expropriated to accommodate the growing population in adequate human settlements.
This is according to mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina, who was speaking at the Metropolis Annual Meeting that is currently underway at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Speaking as one of the panelists under the topic of Inclusive Settlement Development, the mayor indicated that while the City is rolling out serviced stands and rental stock projects as part of the City’s strategies to provide adequate human settlements, the expropriation of undeveloped land is also another option.
“We will tap into exploring options of expropriating land that has remained unused and undeveloped since 1994 in the interest of promoting inclusive human settlement,” Masina said.
Among the projects that are currently underway that the mayor alluded to, is the allocation of serviced stands so that communities living in congested informal settlements are settled in areas where their dignity is restored by having basic services, such as electricity, roads and water.
According to Gugu Ndima, spokesperson of the mayor, the City has a target of providing 6000 rental stock units during the current term of office.
“This type are already finished and occupied at the Germiston city centre. This is to cater for residents who are not ready to buy a house, and those who previously had little means to live in the CBD, closer to work,” said Ndima.
“The 6000 rental stock target for the five-year term will double the number of rental stock units that the City already has.”
The Metropolis Annual Meeting that continues until August 29 is hosting mayors of big international cities and local cities, leaders of national and regional governments as well as global development partners.
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