Ntirhisano Programme brought to Olievenhoutbosch following land grabs

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura and his entourage of various MECs rolled out the Ntirhisano Programme (working together) at Seshegong Secondary School in Olievenhoutbosch on 15 March following illegal land grabs.

The premier has promised the thousands of people who turned out for the Ntirhisano Programme that the province will be bringing a stop to the illegal sale of property and stands.

Makhura said that from 16 March the Hawks will be investigating all the corruption involving housing distributions and illegal land grabs, which have resulted in the tense housing situation in the community.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura is in Olievenhoutbosch at Seshegong Secondary School, accompanied by 5 MECs to address the community which came out in thousands. @MidrandReporter pic.twitter.com/Yrny3TSMg7

— Welisa Nene (@welisanene) March 15, 2018

Makhura said the new appointed MEC of human settlements, Dikgang Uhuru Moiloa, will be returning to Olievenhoutbosch on 15 April to further address community issues regarding land and housing.

“Illegal land grabs will not be tolerated or accepted because if we are to bring an end to the low-cost housing distribution chaos, we need to put an end to all illegal activities, this is why community councillors will no longer be involved in the housing allocations steering committee.”

Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, was pleased with the successes his department has had with the one tablet per child project among others.

However, Lesufi was not pleased with some of the reports which have been coming to his office, stating that some learners are stealing tablets from each other and vandalising schools.

“The department is aware that Olievenhoutbosch schools are overcrowded, therefore we are trying to bring temporal mobile classrooms,” said Lesufi.

All the schools in the community are no-fee schools but at times parents are encouraged to pay a certain donation and Lesufi has urged parents who are able to afford it, to support the schools with donations.

Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, the MEC for Community Safety had a challenge with the crowd while delivering her speech because most of the information she was reporting on was allegedly false, according to the community.

Malobane said she was notified that the Olievenhoutbosch Police Station has 22 vehicles but the crowd protested that fact and said they are only aware of three vehicles and wonder where the rest have gone to because they do not serve the community’s needs.

The community also told the safety MEC that some of the officers drink too much, do not patrol, are not visible in the area and further alleged that some of the police officers are also involved in the crimes, which make events terribly difficult to report.

Malobane promised the community that she would get to the bottom of the policing problem in the area and will soon be implementing Operation Fiela (focused on removing illegal immigrants).

“From last year April to this year March, about 49 people have been murdered in the community and this is unacceptable.”

The MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile revealed that there are only 33 registered companies in Olievenhoutbosch but only 15 of these companies have once or twice received a government contract.

Maile encouraged the community to work hand in hand with government.

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