All we want is land so we can build our own houses – Finetown protesters

Finetown protesters say all they want is land so they can build their own houses.

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“We’ve been paying rent for a long time. We don’t even want RDP houses, just give us land,” said Monica Montreal, a Finetown resident, on Wednesday.

‘Delegate’ Simon Maseko accused local DA ward councillor Danny Netnow of failing to engage with the community. “Our councillor is scared to come to us,” Maseko said, claiming he had told the community to “go to Zuma for houses”.

He said he was glad the Johannesburg mayor would be addressing the community later today.

“It’s better if he comes so he can give us something concrete.”

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Maseko noted protesters were from across the political sphere and lamented criminals robbing and looting stores.

Alfred Masi said he was a former member of the ward committee on housing.

“Some people have applied for subsidies but they were ignored. We met with the former housing MMC of Johannesburg and warned him to rectify this problem,” Masi claimed.

“It was the recession of 2012 and a subsequent reallocation of houses which has led us here today.”

Protesting residents continued to play cat and mouse with police, even stoning an nyala when a lone cop exited the vehicle and tried to address the crowd.

Residents have to learnt to combat the teargas grenades by dousing them with water and extinguishing them. The cat and mouse game continues.

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The situation remains tense, with residents having moved their battle line up to the main road from a side suburban street in Finetown.