When will Ruimsig squatters be relocated?
RUIMSIG – Squatters in the Ruimsig Informal Settlement have still not been moved to a legal piece of land.
Residents neighbouring the illegal Ruimsig Informal Settlement will have to lower their expectations as the squatters will not be relocated soon.
Ward 97 councillor Jaco Engelbrecht said according to the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing Dan Bovu, the City of Johannesburg does not have funds to purchase new land and there is also currently no available land to develop for the squatters to be moved to.
Founding member of Ruimsig North Home Owner’s Association (RNHOA) Johann Wassermann, said residents were informed earlier this year that the squatters will be relocated to a new settlement in Mogale City.
He said they were then told the new settlement was under development but then the situation changed.
“Shortly after the announcement, Mogale City Municipality claimed a lack of capital and could not complete the process,” said Wasserman.
He added that besides the dangers the settlement holds, it is also situated on land unfit for human habitation.
He said according to a Mayoral Oversight Committee that did an extensive study on all formal and informal settlements in 2010, the land is situated on the blasting zone of a sand quarry and encroaches on a wetland.
Wasserman said the squatter camp has grown from 2003 until 2015 from 58 houses to about 500 houses.
Bovu could not be reached for comment.
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