Residents of Bramley demand Organic Market informal settlement to be removed

Residents of Bramley View Ext 12 are furious with the City of Joburg and are demanding the municipality remove the people living in the new informal settlement known as the Organic Market behind their homes, saying it devalues their properties.

In a heated meeting held on 14 March, attended by the City’s regional director, Liziwe Makoro and Ward 81 councillor Irene Rogheimer, residents said their houses are their investments and the settlement threatens their value.

About 100 shacks have been erected at the site and residents claim they were not consulted about it and added that they are concerned about the appalling living conditions. They claim the informal settlement is becoming a ‘transit area’ for shacks, could bring crime and added that the pungent stench coming from the dirty toilets is intolerable.

Highlighting their plight to the City’s officials, community leader Moses Kobo, however, said their biggest concern was the devaluation of their properties. He said residents demand that the City come up with a clear plan to relocate the people elsewhere or they will do it themselves.

Read: Bramley View residents demand basic services from Joburg City as as soon possible

The informal settlement was created recently following the devastating floods that left the people of the Seswetla informal settlement in Alexandra homeless, as well as evictions that took place a nearby factory building.

The City, acting on a court order, was forced to erect shacks at the open space known as the Organic Market to provide temporary shelter, said Mokoro. She added that the City is faced with a land shortage, however, the director general said there are a number of vacant spaces that they have identified for building houses to accommodate the people from the Organic Market.

“Right now we are looking at ways to decongest the settlement… to ensure movement and to also manage the area and curb crime, and deal with other related basic services challenges there. We will be installing prepaid electricity meters as well at the informal settlement because we are unable, at the moment, to promise you that we will be moving them,” she said.

Residents are, however, adamant that they want the settlement moved.

The City has identified a piece of land in Malboro but they are yet to engage with Wits University management to enable them to build rental stock, Mokoro said

Details: Ward 81 councillor Irene Rogheimer 072 409 6594; www.joburg.org.za