Residents of two former informal settlements of Lawley and Drieziek, South of Johannesburg were finally allocated their RDP houses today. The houses were built through the In-Situ programme where government put services and structures where people already live in well located land.
In October 2004, the department, in consultation with various local authorities, embarked on an extensive process to register all informal settlements and their inhabitants. In this process, a total of 395 informal settlements were identified for eradication. Out of the 395 identified, only 122 of the settlements were suitable for In-situ upgrade and the remaining earmarked for relocation to identified projects.
Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Ntombi Mekgwe and the City of Johannesburg handed over the houses to the residents who have been staying in the shacks for most part of their lives. “Today these people are proud owners of new houses and they have been waiting for this day for many years,” said Mekgwe.
Mekgwe said two years ago they signed agreements with two construction companies to start construction of houses in situ. To date 343 houses have been completed in Drieziek Ext 1 and the work to build more houses continues.
She said in Lawley they have formalised close to 5400 stands (exact 5385), bringing much needed services to the residents of this area. “In 2011 we invested millions to construct water and sewer reticulation in Lawley ext 3. As work continues, 213 houses have been completed and this morning we handed over a number of houses to their beneficiaries,” said Mekgwe.
On the same day the MEC also handed over title deeds to residents of Orange Farm and Stretford. 847 title deeds are ready for distribution. Mekgwe said the handing over of title deeds gives the people access to land for those who were denied access previously.
The MEC said the issuing of title deeds today is the completion of the ownership cycle. “Now you can proudly say that you are the owner. The title deed is the only legal proof that you are the owner, and with this legal tender no one can take your property away from you. I know that some of you have waited for years to renovate or extend your houses but you could not because the financial institutions could not finance you because you had no proof that you own your houses,” said MEC Mekgwe.
One of the people to benefit from the In-situ project is 65 years old Makopane Emelia Maqalika who started staying at Lawley in 2009 after leaving Freedom Park. Maqalika was ecstatic that she finally moved into her house. “I think with the proper structure my health will improve for the better because I have been in and out hospital. Life in a shack is difficult during winter season. I am glad that now I have a place I can call home,” said Maqalika..
The department has already built over 14000 RDP houses and serviced around 35 000 stands in Greater Orange Farm.
For more information contact:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
