Councillor’s three-year struggle to sort out Bromhof land

Ward 101 councillor Dalu Cele is pleased about the clearing of an area of land on the corner of President Fouché and CR Swart drives in Bromhof.

For many years, nearby homeowners have been complaining about the state of the open area of land, alleging that it was filled with displaced people who would pollute the area with litter, smoke and noise.

The area in question is privately owned and is in the process of being developed.

Cele said when he was first elected as a ward councillor three years ago, he added this area as a priority to sort out. “After three years of research, fighting, threats, [involving] SAPS, JMPD, social development, environmental health, housing, home affairs, and eventually locating the owner of the property, the illegal occupation of this property is finally being resolved.”

Cele added that the land was overgrown with tall trees and lush shrubs, making it the perfect place for displaced people to live.

“Residents had been complaining for years – the people on the open land would make a lot of noise, burn materials and get drunk.”

As the area is situated in a valley near the Klein Jukskei spruit, even a small amount of noise became a massive nuisance for the residents residing in the dense area of homes behind the land.

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“In the space of three years, the police, Metro police and the Department of Social Development had helped the people living in this area to find alternative accommodation on regular occasions. As the area is in a busy and densely populated spot, more displaced people would soon make use of the land quickly after removal.”

According to Cele, residents also complained about escalating levels of crime in the area.

“Even the police took precaution when confronting the occupants of the land as there was so much vegetation. It was a very tough job.”

The City of Joburg issued a notice to the owner of the land to sort the area out as it was becoming a social issue.

Trucks and diggers came onto the land to level it out and remove the dense bush on 3 February.

Cele added, “If you own a piece of land, regardless if it is still in the planning stages, you need to secure it and maintain it. We are glad that the owners obliged and we hope that they will keep the land maintained.

“I thank the residents of Bromhof for their patience while we worked hard to get the law to take its course.”