MSHOLOZI – The community of this informal settlement has been asked to be patient as the formalisation processes of the area continue.
“Formalisation of an area is not a one-day thing, it’s a process and hence we will need your patience while we work towards it,” said Mr Joseph Sithole of the Mbombela Local Municipality’s (MLM) human settlements department while addressing residents at a recently held community meeting aimed at updating the community on the formalisation processes of this settlement into a township.
According to Sithole, the municipality will provide a printed list of all names of registered stand owners and it will be on public view in all areas around Msholozi so residents can check if their information has been correctly captured and make amendments.
“This will be done for final verification as some names were not correctly spelt. Requests for transfer of ownership of stands will not be considered prior to the finalisation of the verification process and the proclamation of the township,” clarified Sithole.
“Any changes with regard to ownership of stands will only be implemented through the recommendations of the ward committee and municipal officials,” he added.
The town planner, Mr Titus Masuku of Umsebe Development Planners, emphasised that the principle of “one stand, one owner” would be applied as the social survey already conducted in the area indicated that some individuals owned more than one.
He also urged residents to obey markings of stands done by surveyors.
“The process of planning the area is still continuing, although it is not easy to do when it has already been occupied by individuals. We are still busy with the general plan of the area, although stands situated on servitudes, including waterways and flood lines, will not be included in the plan,” he said.
Masuku added that houses built on other servitudes such as railway lines would not be accessed at all as the railway line belongs to Transnet.
It was heard that other develop-ments that needed to be included in the plan includes a bus route, schools and clinics, and other services.
“The main entrance to Msholozi will be in Rocky Drift and the community needs to discuss the location for a primary and secondary schools. You have to show us land to build schools, although one must indicate that before this land was invaded by the community, SANDF centres were planned to be converted into schools, the community and the councillor will have to discuss that.”
Cllr Kenneth Mkhonto, ward councillor, made a clarion call to all structures to stop any illegal transactions of stands in the area as the land belongs to the municipality not individuals.
He also urged communities to love, care and support one another especially during sad times.
He asked residents to save and use water and electricity sparingly and to report any cases of criminal activities to the police as the area was known for lots of criminal activities.
“We will ask government to conduct Operation Fiela here,” said Mkhonto to the applause of many.
It was heard that MLM had resolved to fence Msholozi, to prevent further encroachments on the land.
The area still belongs to the national department of public works and Mbombela has engaged with it to transfer the land in order to formalise the settlement which ballooned as early as 2013 after invations had begun in 2008.
