Accommodation remains a struggle for Ward 97 evictees
WILGESPRUIT – Evictees in Ward 97 are still homeless and seek answers to their accommodation crisis.
Almost four months without a proper roof over of their heads, homeless people in Ward 97 have started losing hope about receiving answers regarding their accommodation concerns.
The group was displaced on 14 March when a plot they occupied on Magnum Road was demolished by the Red Ants following a court order.
Amidst protests for days after the eviction, the families, who could not afford alternative accommodation, were subsequently moved by the Gauteng Human Settlement to Plot 323 on Hoeveld Road in Wilgespruit, where they were provided temporary tents, water and mobile toilets.
Affected resident Lefty Khuselo told Roodepoort Northsider that they had been patient waiting for answers. “The community is still waiting for concrete answers from our leaders. It’s been over three months since we’ve been moved here. A lot of promises have been made but nothing has actually been done,” he complained.
Khuselo added that they were expecting a swift solution to the crisis due to the cold weather and illegal dumping occurring on the site. “We do not like the conditions that we are living in. This place is cold and we stay with children, pregnant women and old people around. We also have an issue of people dumping close to the land,” he said.
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The seven-months pregnant Beauty Maake said she was four months into her pregnancy when they were evicted. She added the current settlement is traumatising and not conducive to a healthy pregnancy.
Ward 97 councillor Leah Knott provided feedback on the issue as it stands.
“The situation at present is quite complicated and entails intensive groundwork as well as cross-governmental involvement in resolving [the matter]. So I ask patience from both residents and those evicted, living in temporary structures on the property whilst City of Johannesburg Housing are dealing with the matter,” she said.
“The main problem in Region C is the lack of previous attention to emergency housing outside the inner city. The current administration has inherited a City with a more than 30 000 housing backlog which cannot be fixed overnight.”
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Knott also mentioned that she has kept in close contact with the relevant departments over the past two months and would inform residents of the developments.
On the issue of illegal dumping, Knott said she had approached the relevant department to conduct an investigation and enforce clearing and enclosing of the land.
Details: Ward 97 councillor Leah Knott on 082 633 9070.
