Randhart Ext 2 land dispute escalates as councillor seeks answers
Rudolf Herbst is calling on Ekurhuleni and the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development to clarify the legal process, unanswered questions over water meters and continued construction despite stop-building notices.
The Randhart Ext 2 dispute has escalated, with Ekurhuleni PR councillor Rudolf Herbst demanding a consolidated response from the City of Ekurhuleni and the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID).
Herbst said he personally visited the site, recorded water meter numbers and serials, and reconciled them against the city’s GIS and erf information.
He submitted a report with photos, meter positions and Johannesburg Water-branded equipment found in Alberton.
He said key questions remain unanswered: who authorised, installed and registered each meter, which municipal account it links to, who applied, what documents were used, and who approved it.
He said even if meters were later removed, the audit trail should still exist on the provincial land.
Unanswered questions
Herbst said DID advised on September 17 that the State Attorney was instructed to seek urgent High Court relief, with two weeks estimated on September 18.
That period has passed.
Follow-ups sent to officials on September 25 and 28 remain unanswered.
He is awaiting a case number, hearing date, relief sought and interim measures, as well as updated PWV16 road-reserve planning.
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said they had to follow up on the issue and revert to him, and could not comment further.
WATCH: Questions raised over structures and land sales in Randhart Ext 2
Herbst also said construction has continued despite city stop-building notices, including over the past weekend, despite residents reporting it and the ward councillor escalating for Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) intervention.
He clarified he is not asking for unlawful evictions, but for clarity on enforcement when stop notices are ignored.
Community frustration
He warned that community frustration is growing, with some residents discussing taking matters into their own hands, which he does not support.
The city has been asked to nominate a senior co-ordinator to cover nine departments involved, including Building Control, Real Estate, Water and Sanitation, Finance, Energy, EMPD, Legal and GIS, and to confirm timeframes for a consolidated reply.
DID has been asked to confirm the court process.
“After initiating legal process, [we] await a date to proceed with the case. With regard to the stop notices being ignored, I would need to clarify what measures can be taken and get back to you,” said DID spokesperson Thro Nkonki.
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said that the city is not dealing with this issue, adding: “DID has started with legal proceedings, please follow up with them.”
The Alberton Record approached builders and ‘land owners’ for comment. The most the Record got was a wave.
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