Ratepayers and residents were disappointed with the way the Gauteng Department of Housing handled the land invasion issue.
Concerned community members from different backgrounds said Housing MMC Dan Bovu’s solution will lead to severe devaluation of their properties and possible loss of revenue in rate payments.
Their concerns came after Bovu addressed the community during a meeting on 10 September.
During the meeting at Queenies and Kingslets plot, Ruimsig, the MMC apologised to hundreds of invaders who were forcefully removed from plot 323 by the Red Ants on 29 August.
Bovu said his department has already sent out officials to move around the Wilgespruit areas, and to identify each and every land owned by government.
“We will check the capacity of those vacant lands and what services can be implemented. We cannot turn our backs on people, by allowing them to sleep in the streets,” said Bovu.
Bovu claimed time and space may not give them latitude to apply government policies in terms of the National Housing Act, the Constitution and the requirements of common decency.
When the property owners raised complaints about adding squatter camps near their areas, Bovu replied that this is what it means when government preaches “Corridors of Freedom” – it is about insuring freedom and uniting races.
“There is nothing like upmarket places where poor people can’t be allowed to stay at. Our government wants to bring people closer to developed areas so they can access better services,” said Bovu.
In a statement issued by the Wilgespruit Residents’ Association, for more than eight months Bovu has been promising to come up with a solution to the problem.
It said that this group of people has been joined by other groups from Ruimsig, Krugersdorp and even as far as Diepsloot, all demanding land.
The statement said, “The land in question is right on the junction of the planned Metro Boulevard and PWV 5 – vital roads to facilitate the growth, development and transport infrastructure of Gauteng.
“It cannot be economically viable for the MMC to solve this short-term problem by allowing the squatters to settle on this land which is without any services, water or electricity and is also outside the urban edge, where further development is not allowed at this stage.”
It concluded there’s also concern that this settlement will be allowed to “spill over” onto adjacent private properties, just like Zandspruit and Diepsloot.
Ward 97 councillor Jaco Engelbrecht said they are aware of the situation and are trying to communicate with all the parties involved including the government about the whole situation which is dividing the community of Wilgespruit.
Details: Ward 97 councillor Jaco Engelbrecht 082 318 6514.
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