Kliptown residents demand answers on housing
The residents of a Kliptown informal settlement have called for answers regarding housing issues after they expressed frustration with living conditions.
The residents of a Kliptown informal settlement have called for answers regarding housing issues after they expressed frustration with challenges they face while the City races to complete the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme in the area. Challenges mentioned included crime, protests, alleged selling of stands and delays in the completion of the project.
On Wednesday, Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing in Johannesburg, Mlungisi Mabaso met with residents, the settlements’ community leaders and law enforcement officials to discuss a permanent solution. One of the biggest talking points was the issue of undocumented foreign nationals, who it was claimed were responsible for the protests in the area as they are unhappy with being excluded due to lack of documentation. In response, MMC Mabaso said he and his team would engage the department of Home Affairs to deal with documentation.
“Our purpose with the project is to upgrade informal settlements. We are bound to accommodate everyone occupying a settlement, but only if they are documented. The challenges mentioned are obviously are a setback, where you have undocumented residents standing in the way of development but there have been engagements with law enforcement to try and mitigate those challenges. There have also been engagements with the leaders of those undocumented people to find a solution. We know they have been to Home Affairs as well to try and correct their documents for those whose has expired. We are in consultation with Home Affairs who will guide us on the way forward in that regard,” the MMC said.
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Another hot talking point was the alleged selling of stands within the informal settlement.
“Well as of now I am not aware, but we always encourage people to come forward with information if there are any elements of corruption so that we can investigate that and get to the bottom of it, If there are people that are selling stands then those people should be reported and let law enforcement deal with them,” Mabaso responded.
Aldphus Masithe, one of the community leaders in the settlement said the residents appreciated the MMC’s swift response to come and meet them and hoped that issues raised would be addressed.
“Since the MMC has come here to speak directly with the people, I think there will be progress. If they do what they said they are going to do here then there will be progress,” he said.
Although the City has several housing projects running in the Soweto, MMC Mabaso vowed to keep a close eye on proceedings to ensure they are completed as soon as possible.
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