The Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing handed over houses to 50 rightful owners whose houses were illegally occupied in Extension 6 Soshanguve in the City of Tshwane. The houses were handed over on the spot on Tuesday to the legitimate beneficiaries after the department successfully evicted the illegal occupants.
At least 50 houses and 273 stands were illegally occupied, thus creating a delay in the continuation of the project in the area to build houses for beneficiaries. The department through engagements with community members and officials in the City of Tshwane discovered that some of these sites and houses were sold to illegal occupants and foreign nationals by people claiming to be community leaders.
MEC for Local Government and Housing, Ntombi Mekgwe welcomed the positive and quick response by the department to deal with illegal occupation of stands and houses. She said that the issue has become a major problem for the department and committed that they will continue to work hard to deal with this lawlessness. “We cannot allow this to become a norm. We will continue to use all available avenues to ensure that illegal occupation does not happen under our watch,” MEC Mekgwe said.
MEC Mekgwe said that the move should be a warning to would-be illegal occupants that they will stop at nothing to make sure that rightful owners are not cheated out of proper shelter. “Beneficiaries have been waiting patiently for their houses and I urge others to follow the correct procedures and await their turn,” MEC Mekgwe highlighted.
The department has started with preparations to evict the illegal occupants of the 273 serviced stands to allow the contractor to continue with the construction of more houses.
For further information contact:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
