Settlement washed away and then quickly re-built
MSAWAWA – Families were left destitute after their shacks were washed away during a flash flood of Klein Jukskei River on 16 February.
Although the shacks were built illegally on private land and right next to the river below the 50-year flood-line, Ward 96 councillor Matome Mafokwane felt the need to help these families, many of whom are immigrants from Zimbabwe.
Mafokwane went into the settlement to assess the damage on 18 February and compile a list of individuals who were in desperate need of aid. Upon arriving, he was met by the upsetting sight of fallen trees and belongings and rubbish washed up on the river banks.
A young mother, her baby strapped tightly to her back, was searching through the debris trying to find her bag containing essentials for her child. When she found it, she salvaged a few items of clothes and a tub of aqueous cream. The rest of the contents and the bag were then discarded, too damaged to use again.
“These squatters were removed last year by the City of Joburg because they built their shelters too close to the river, but within a few months, they were back again,” said Mafokwane.
“These people need to understand that the flood line restrictions are in place purely for safety reasons.”
The councillor was also taken aback by how quickly the shacks were again rebuilt below the flood line and he issued stern warnings to these residents, many of whom have children who like to play in the river.
“These people need help, some of them lost everything they own,” Mafokwane said.
“But this situation of building their homes so close to the river must come to an end.”
Department of Housing for the City of Joburg has also given comment on the matter and have committed to resolving the issue.
“The housing department has medium- to long-term plans to relocate people from this informal settlement to the Lion’s Park Housing Development – a new development that is being planned to cater for this and other surrounding areas like Kya Sands and Lion Park,” stated spokesperson for the department, Bubu Xuba.
Xuba further explained that his department is currently partnering with other departments and they have planned programmes to contain the growth of informal settlements.
“Late last year we managed to remove about 180 shacks during a blitz in Msawawa,” he said.
“I also should mention that Msawawa falls on privately-owned land, as such we would like to plead with land owners to be vigilant with what’s happening on their properties.
“Once people have settled, it becomes a long and arduous process to remove them.”
What solutions can you come up with regarding the current state of informal settlements in Fourways? Let us know in the comments section below.
