Gauteng government will not tolerate land invasions: Mashatile

12 June 2017 - 12:42 By TMG Digital
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ANC gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile at the Gauteng legislature on14 OCTOBER 2014
ANC gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile at the Gauteng legislature on14 OCTOBER 2014
Image: PUXLEY MAKGATHO

The Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements‚ Paul Mashatile‚ has told residents of Johannesburg South that the provincial government will not tolerate any land invasions.

Mashatile was giving a progress report to wards 119 and 24, which include the Naturena‚ Freedom Park‚ Slovo Park‚ Elias Motswaledi‚ Siyaya and Daveland communities.

He said he agreed with the community that land was needed, as it was a key issue that liberation movements had fought for.

“People need land for housing‚ farming businesses‚ [and] for schools and churches it is important. But land invasions are not accepted because they delay development. It is hard to dig and put services in land that has been invaded‚” he said.

When the community identified land, he said, it had to propose how it should be used and the government would check who owned it.

He said all spheres of government would work together to develop the land and provide services.

“Once we have identified the land‚ we are going to put in services‚ such as water‚ electricity‚ sewer and roads‚ the allocated sites according to the list. We are doing this so that those who can afford are able to build themselves houses. We are not going to wait for RDP houses but for those who cannot afford to build even when given land government we will build for them‚” Mashatile said.

He added that the department was investigating allegations of corruption in the housing allocation in Freedom Park, and called on communities to report corrupt leaders who would “suck the community until it is dry”.

“We are aware that some communities are paying certain individuals during land invasions and we urge you to stop it because the people you are paying do not own the land and they will not do anything for you‚” he said.

Mashatile said he would engage other government departments to resolve other challenges in the community such as the need for another high school in the area and a bridge for primary school pupils crossing from Freedom Park to Naturena.

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