The Department of Local Government and Housing calls on communities to distance themselves from people who want to create confusion on housing matters.
"We want to assure communities that the department is still committed to providing housing opportunities for the people even in the presence of challenges we face," said MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro.
This call follows a protest at Impala Road west of Johannesburg.
"We are informed that the protest was called by a group calling themselves the 1996/00 Housing Committee and the Homeless Forum. These groups are under pressure to deliver to communities whom they had promised to provide houses" said MEC Lekgoro.
"The officials from the department had several meetings with them, where they were informed that no one person or authority outside of the department of local government and housing is responsible for allocating houses to communities.
"In that meeting they were informed that the criteria for allocating houses set by the department is intended to curb corruption and identify if there are people who had benefitted from the department before, such that they do not benefit twice," said MEC Lekgoro.
"On several occasions, these groups have called on communities to submit C-forms to them in order to push them on the housing list. They did this even when they knew they had no authority to provide houses.
"They promised people that they will ensure the department allocates them houses at Lufhereng opposite Doornkop west of Johannesburg. They sent a memorandum to the City of Johannesburg which was responded to. Be that as it may, a meeting is being convened with them as we speak," said MEC Lekgoro.
"We reiterate a call for our support of peaceful protests and demonstrations which are within the law. We call on communities to distance them from violent community protests with are only intended to create anarchy and lawlessness.
"We call on the police to ensure that those who have been arrested for vandalising property and public violence face the full might off the law," said MEC Lekgoro
For more information please contact:
Fred Mokoko
Cell: 082 447 8407
Tel: 011 355 4013
E-mail: Fred.Mokoko@gauteng.gov.za
