Authorities partner to take on land invasions in Joburg
JOBURG – The roll-out of water, electricity and sanitation to informal settlements will help ensure that disadvantaged communities can equally access basic services associated with dignity and health.
Following the upsurge in the number of illegal land invasions taking place in Johannesburg, the City of Johannesburg and Gauteng Provincial Government will deploy more than 1 500 patrollers to assist Metro police with the issue.
According to a statement released by the City, Executive Mayor Geoff Makhubo, Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Lebogang Maile, MEC for Infrastructure Development Tasneem Motara and Faith Mazibuko, the MEC for Community Safety launched the Anti-Land Invasion Unit in Lenasia on 17 August.
The strategy to combat land grabs will be supplemented by the City intensifying the full roll-out of the Rapid Land Response Programme, which affords residents serviced stands to build themselves houses.
Makhubo said, “I am glad that we are working together with the Gauteng province to push back these land-grabbing syndicates. We need to discourage the illegal occupation of land.” Makhubo conceded that the City faced a plethora of urban development challenges relating to unemployment, climate change adaptation and spatial transformation.
To ensure liveable communities and shelter for all, he said the City planned to address homelessness and the lack of land by focusing on housing and land provision. Makhubo added that the municipality would increase housing stock, speed up the delivery of title deeds for state-subsidised housing, update housing policies and explore solutions to incorporate problem buildings (and their residents) into the municipal housing plan.
The City has also planned to expand the free rudimentary service delivery in informal settlements through the roll-out of water, electricity and sanitation. Access to communal standpipes and sanitation in the form of ventilated improved pits, waterborne toilets and ablution blocks will also be provided.
Makhubo said, “This will ensure that disadvantaged communities can equally access basic services associated with dignity and health.” He added that the municipality was working to improve existing infrastructure through upgrading, maintenance and renewal/replacement projects.
