Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo held a meeting at the weekend with Lenasia Concerned Residents Group where it was agreed to finally resolve the illegal land invasions matter which resulted in demolitions of houses. A new process has been reinstated which will ensure that the matter is fast-tracked and finally resolved.
The parties further recommitted to cooperate and ensure that the matter is speedily resolved following concerns that the initial Ministerial process had slowed down.
MEC Mamabolo requested the meeting with the residents to express government’s commitment to resolving the Lenasia matter and to ensure that the Special Lenasia Intervention Task Team (SPLIT) wraps up its work and bring the matter to finality. MEC Mamabolo committed to accelerate the resolution on this matter.
“I am going to undertake further consultations with various stakeholders to request that SPLIT urgently set up the process to conclude this matter and find a way forward,” said MEC Mamabolo.
MEC further indicated that the matter has gone on for far too long and sooner than later the matter must be wound-up and closed properly. We do not want a situation where communities have grudges and lingering pain against their own government.
MEC Mamabolo also raised concern about the ongoing illegal land invasions in Lenasia. He expressed his unhappiness that these illegal invasions only serve to exacerbate and compound the land problems in Lenasia.
In my meeting with the resident's leadership today I appealed to them to assist with asking the residents to refrain from these invasions. Our first call is to appeal to the community not to invade the land. Law enforcement will be the last resort.
For now, we are making a call to the community of Lenasia and other affected areas in the south of Johannesburg, to stop land invasions. We don’t want to witness again what happened in Lenasia in 2012," Mamabolo appealed.
MEC Mamabolo said government also remain opposed to illegal land invasions and illegal occupation of RDP houses.
For more information contact:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
