“Who is the park going to feed?” asked *Maria Mokoena who faces possible eviction after the City of Johannesburg appointed Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to develop a park on a piece of land that she and other residents live and operate their businesses from.
“I live and operate my recycling business here. My children and I rely on what I earn from recycling to make ends meet. Where are we supposed to go?
“I’ve been in and out of hospital ever since they told us we’re going to be evicted because it worries me to not know whether or not we will be provided with an alternative space.” said Mokoena.
According to City Parks Regional Manager Lunga Ncapai, residents are illegally occupying the space on Marsh Street in Meadowlands Zone Three.
“Upon investigations, it was found that stand 28545 (on Marsh Street), is indeed a public open space. Structures that have been erected on site, do not comply in terms of building regulations and therefore are a hazard to the community.
“Not only are the occupants using the site illegally but they are using the space for scrapyards, tombstone manufacturing and catering services.
“There is no proper infrastructure available on site to dispose of by-products and the likes, thus impacting negatively on the environment,” said Ncapai.
However, residents have been leasing the space from Joburg Property Company (JPC), which manages and develops the City of Johannesburg’s property portfolio, and receive monthly billing statements.
“We’re aware that it’s a municipal space that we have been leasing but we’re paying rent. For them to evict us and not have an alternative space for us is unfair.
“They told us some months ago that we’re going to be evicted and business has been slow ever since, it’s affecting my business negatively because it challenges day-to-day operations. I’ve lost employees because I’m unable to pay their wages,” said *Sipho Maseko who has been operating a scrapyard business for over 30 years.
Maseko expressed his disappointment in the Ward Councillor and community officials in dealing with the situation and assisting residents.
Ncapai said the Regional Director, Patrick Lephunya engaged with various residents and the illegal occupants informing them of the planned project for the open space.
“The site has been illegally occupied beyond two years and it is in this regard that Regional Maintenance, Region D engaged Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s legal department to investigate the matter with Johannesburg Property Company and advise on way-forward.
“We are currently still awaiting the outcome of the investigations and further communication from the Regional Directors’ Office,” said Ncapai.
JPC Region D Liason Officer Justice Zuma was approached for comment but asked to be given time to investigate. He had not provided the outcome of his investigation at the time of print.
Ward 41 Coucillor Sphiwe Mbongo called a meeting on August 13 to attend to the matter almost three months later since residents were informed about the evictions.
He confirmed the City’s plan to develop.
“I am aware of the plan to erect the park. We’re in the process of negotiating and investigating the matter,” said Mbongo.
*Not their real names.
