Residents of the Jabulani informal settlement took to the streets to demand proper housing.
The residents are living in shacks on what seemingly used to be sports grounds years ago as it has tennis courts and is fenced as a stadium would be. They are adamant that houses should be built for them in the area.
According to Lucky Chiya, spokesperson for the Executive Mayor, “The squatter camp behind Randgate known as Jabulani has not been demarcated for housing. The land the people are living on is privately owned land.”
Chiya does not know who the landowner is, and said these provisions were not given to the people by the Randfontein Local Municipality. These provisions include flood lights, water and toilets.
Chiya also stated that he had not received a petition from the settlers therefore he did not know what their concerns were.
“Even though these people are living on privately owned land, they still remain the responsibility of the municipality. The municipality will still assist them with what they need in its own capacity.
“The issue of housing is a provincial competency – it is the responsibility of the Provincial Government to provide houses. The municipality is only there to supply land and sanitation once it is given the go-ahead by province,” Chiya said.
