Property invasions rock Joburg east suburbs

Orange Grove protestors will have to wait a little longer to discuss their property lease agreements because the authorities are still on leave.

This according to Ward 73 councillor Eleanor Huggett after residents took to the streets on 7 January demanding that the government deal decisively with people who invade properties in the Joburg north-east suburbs.

Angry residents staged a protest on the corner of Louis Botha Avenue and 10th Street on Saturday morning and blocked the intersection by burning tyres and mattresses.

Their demonstration was to show their dissatisfaction with the ‘leasing’ of houses in Orange Grove, plus to show their concern regarding the number of illegal activities in the area, including property invasions.

It is apparent that some of the houses are managed by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) and residents are dissatisfied with how they are administered.

During the protest, Huggett visited the area and addressed residents on their concerns and even promised to accompany them to meet with a property company official who will be able to address their issue.

After meeting residents, she said she had tried to contact the property company but to no avail. “I contacted them by telephone to organise a meeting but the one person concerned was on leave and the other is not answering the call.

“I assured the residents that I would do everything in my power to organise a meeting as soon as possible with JPC so they can give clarification as to the status of the properties they [JPC] have purchased.”

In follow-up questions on 10 January Huggett said, “The JPC people are still on leave… the head person [will be] back on Wednesday and will organise [a] meeting,” she concluded.

Details: Eleanor Huggett 071 785 8068.

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