Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cogta MEC Lebogang Maile met with informal settlement representatives, ANC in City of Johannesburg and ward 8, 9 and 10, region D’s Councillor Zarina Motala, to discuss way forward on the issue of land invaders in Lenasia.
The meeting comes after the protests that occurred last week Thursday in the area.
However, bond holders who are residents of Hillside in Lenasia South also protested on Friday complaining about paying for bonds while land invaders come and put their shacks on the land.
Bond holders also raised the issue of their properties’ decline and high crime rate. They embarked on shutdown protest of Land Invasion at Naren’s farm, at four way stop R558 main road of Daxina Hospital towards Lenmed and K43 road. They said the farm is closer to them and are experiencing cable theft, theft of valuable items in their yards and burglaries.
They also raised the issue of unfair payments of municipal services while invaders are not paying.
Councillor Motala said their issue is that people are taking land by force while they should apply for RDPs. She added that people who invade land unlawfully, turn themselves into landlords and sell certain portion of land to disadvantaged and vulnerable people because they are in need of it.
“We are concerned and want government to intervene because those people took land unlawfully. They should buy it because what they are doing is committing a crime. Where are they getting services such as clinics, transport and there should be a park where they stay. It is not about racism but things such as electricity affect us because it is connected illegally from those who are paying for it. Infrastructure should be involved as people are invading all over the region in places such as Ennerdale, Lenasia South, Lawley and others. They should apply for houses and will get them if they qualify,” said Motala.
MEC Maile said there was balance on the meeting as community, different stakeholders and councillor were there.
“Every sector is well presented and the issue involves different sectors in the government to solve it. Infrastructure, human settlements, municipality and councillors are part of the solution to this problem”, said Maile.
Department of Infrastructure MEC Tasneem Motara also said the issue needs different stakeholders to be solved. She added that there will be a map-drawn to see how the solution should be reached.
“There are court laws to be followed concerning the land. Different departments will also have to work with law enforcements, community and municipality. Even if this issue was not part of the budget, if we have to tackle it financially, national treasury will be involved and we will put it on the budget,” she said.
