Faizel Patel – 17/02/2021
Johannesburg Human Settlements MEC Mlungisi Mabaso says the city has opened criminal cases against syndicates selling illegal land in Lenasia, Lenasia South and surrounds.
Mabaso was speaking to Radio Islam on Wednesday about improving the living conditions of the city’s poor, especially after living himself at the Dube Hostel for nine years
One of the biggest challenges facing South Africa is the lack of housing for millions of citizens.
A number of Illegal informal settlements have mushroomed in Lenasia, Lenasia South and the N12 putting pressure on local residents who are plagued by exorbitant utility bills due to illegal connections and water usage.
Residents also complain of frequent service delivery protests, the high crime rate in the suburb because of the criminal elements operating in the illegal informal settlements and ward councilors failing to address the issue, which has dropped the value of homes in the suburb.
Mabaso says there are two scenarios that surround the illegal land invasion and land grabs.
“One, it’s a criminal syndicate of people who are illegally selling stands to our people because they are vulnerable. Two, you’ve got people who are genuinely looking for places to stay. So, we have opened cases because we are aware of this criminal syndicate.”
Mabaso says people are not allowed to illegal grab land.
“We have several times requested our people to be patient with us. We know they are frustrated, they’ve been waiting for too long, but they cannot take the land with their own hands. They must allow government processes to unfold because we are going to respond.”
Mabaso says the city cannot allow anarchy and lawlessness to consume suburbs in Johannesburg.
Listen to the interview with Mlungisi Mabaso
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