MEC promises Newclare houses

Preparation for the construction of 172 houses in Newclare will resume, Gauteng human settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo said on Wednesday.

Mamabolo had visited the leadership of the Kathrada informal settlement near Newclare on Wednesday.

"We have jointly agreed that the contractor must go back to site tomorrow to prepare the site for the construction of houses," he said in a statement.

"We have put pressure on the contractor to move with speed to ensure that the houses are built soonest."

He said the contractors also attended the meeting, which noted the delays in implementation of the project that was scheduled to start in July.

On Monday, a man was killed and two buildings were torched at the Newclare train station in Johannesburg by protesters from the Kathrada Park informal settlement, who were complaining about the lack of RDP houses, Gauteng police said.

Mamabolo called for calm on Wednesday and said the success of the housing project was testimony that a lot could be achieved without using violence.

"I am making a humble plea to the people of Gauteng to refrain from acts of violence which will lead to injury, loss of life or damage to property and infrastructure," he said.

"Our doors are always open for engagements and it is our intention to have a peaceful province."