Residents of Van Dyk Park Mine Quarters recently submitted a petition at the Germiston Council Chambers seeking clarity about an alleged housing development set to take place in the area.
According to concerned residents who have been living in that area for over 10 years, they heard the metro is planning to build houses and apparently their houses could be demolished.
Community leader William Mokolane, said: “We did not have enough information so we sought answers from the metro. We want to know exactly if our houses will be demolished or not.
“We have been living in these houses when there was no electricity nor other services, but we persisted. Our current houses are spacious enough. We don’t want other houses or be moved elsewhere.”
Another resident, Alexis Mohlala, said they are not against the proposed development because the metro needs to build more houses.
“The metro can build houses around our area, but not demolish our homes. We need surety that whatever the metro does our houses will be safe,” Mohlala said.
Residents also added that they also need title deeds.
On their submitted petition they have highlighted that their area qualifies to be a heritage site because the houses in the area are more than 50 years old.
They also highlighted that the community have kept their promises to protect their area from illegal land invasions and kept the area safe.
The Advertiser is still waiting for the metro’s response in regards to clarity about the development.
