A high number of unconstituted structures, lack of leadership, as well as shack-farming are some of the problems fuelling violent protest in Zandspruit Ext 9 and 10, north of Johannesburg.
MEC for Local Government and Housing in Gauteng Humphrey Mmemezi told the residents of this informal settlement during a visit following the latest unrests in the area. Zandspruit which constitute nine areas is besieged by infighting amongst leaders. He learnt from the community that leaders in this area cannot be trusted because of infighting and demands for bribes by these leaders.
Also there is high number of unconstituted structures such as the Zandspruit Development Forum, Zandspruit Crisis Committee, Zandspruit Development Committee as well as a patrol committee.
It is alleged that this patrol committee also demands a protection fee from community members. “It is for this reason that on the 28 May, all those who want to be members of a patrol committee would have to be vetted by the South African Police Service (SAPS). And those that would resist this opportunity but continue to patrol would be considered to be acting against the law,” MEC Mmemezi said.
Mmemezi said shack farming in this area is a serious concern. “There are people who own more than 20 shacks and collect rents not less than R20 000 from the dwellers in a land that they do not even own. People have invested in shacks and we need to stop this people in their trail. Some have even erected shacks in access roads to other parts of the community. Trucks that drain the temporary toilets cannot access the area due to the erection of shacks on access roads.
And sadly this overcrowding of shacks also block roads and often prevents essential services such as ambulances or police to reach people in dire need of these services. Some shacks are even erected near sewerage points,” said Mmemezi.
The MEC said that some of the people who were supposed to be in leadership positions were actually the ones behind shack-farming, while some own over five shacks which they then rent out.
Also the MEC said it would be to the benefit of the community if these numerous structures were disbanded. “We need to formalise new structures and encourage those that are in leadership positions to refrain from working in silos. I have committed myself that I would be involved in the forming of new structures. We will go block by block so that the residents can elect the people that they want,” Mmemezi said.
Mmemezi said they have committed to fixing of all the leaking water taps, the flood lights, refuse removal, remove shacks on the access roads, control the mushrooming of shacks by numbering all the shacks so that they can control the influx of people in this area.
He said government has already built 300 houses and a further 200 houses are still to be built. He said other people from this area will also benefit from the expansion of the nearby Cosmo City.
For further information contact:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
Eddie Mokoena
Cell: 083 602 5652
