Gauteng department of human settlements to engage with police to curb vandalism and land invasions
The MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Paul Mashatile, said that the department will engage with the police to as land invasion and vandalism is on the increase in the province.
“We want the police to apprehend and bring to book whoever is responsible for the criminal activities in the form of arson and vandalism.
MEC Mashatile said the invasions and vandalism were robbing people what was due to them.
This comes as the department is assessing the damage caused by land invader who vandalised and torched RDP houses in Kagiso extension 13.
MEC Mashatile recently visited the houses to check the progress in order for them to be allocated to beneficiaries.
“The houses were close to completion, the contractor was on the final stages. The damage will delay the allocation process. Beneficiaries will have to spend more time in shacks as we have to assess the damages and repair them,” he said.
The MEC said that the damage into the houses also affected the department’s budget.
“When budgeting for the project there is no money allocated for repairing work that is done. Repairing the houses will therefore mean that some other project will suffer,” he said.
MEC Mashatile also expressed his disappointment at the people who invaded the land near the houses.
“We call on people not to be misled by self-serving people posing as leaders. The people behind the invasion do not want the area to develop. There is already development in that land, invading it will delay any plans government had for it,” he said.
The MEC said that the land invaded is part of the Leratong Nodal Development which is a MEGA catalytic project of the National Department of Human Settlements
The project will include a housing development, a transport hub, government precinct and a shopping centre.
For more information contact:
Keith Khoza
Cell: 082 823 9672
