Shack numbering requested by residents

The City of Ekurhuleni has confirmed that MMC for Human Settlements Lesiba Mpya met with residents of the Location Road informal settlement on April 18.
This was in response to a request for comment after settlement residents took to the streets in protest on May 19.
It was reported in the Herald’s May 21 edition ‘Unrest flares up’ how the intersection of Hospital Road and Location Road was barricaded with rocks and burning tyres by residents of the informal settlement.
There were also reports of protestors throwing stones at passing vehicles.
Brandon Pretorius, DA councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan, told the Herald at the time the protest action was a result of ‘broken promises’.
“On April 18, Mpya had a public meeting with the occupants of the settlement and made commitments and promises that were obviously not kept,” he said.
“According to the information I received, thus is what sparked the protest action.”
The Herald only received feedback on this issue from the municipality last Thursday.
According to City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, the purpose of the meeting on April 18 was to address community concerns.
Asked what commitments, if any, were made to the residents regarding housing or their shacks being numbered, Dlamini stated the Department of Human Settlements started numbering the shacks in the settlement from May 5.
“Shack numbering is done to get the records of who is residing in the informal settlement and also to minimise the allegations of illegal invasions in the settlement,” he said.
“This was also the request from the residents of the settlement to Mpya.”