Monde Mbingeleli of ward 116, recently said that he hoped the agency would bring its impressive record of implementing development programmes and projects elsewhere, to Alexandra. The same was said recently by the agency when it took overall control of the Alexandra Renewal Project as part of the city’s centralising development implementation.
“Most people are not aware that the city was hamstrung by the lack of authority to develop on State land… which was the preserve… of the Provincial Department of Housing,” he said.
“The city has now been given partial authority, and this will enable it to fast-track some of the stalled developments and to also control and resolve all housing-related problems speedily.”
Mbingeleli said this in reference to recent attempts by residents to illegally occupy completed but vacant flats at Bothlabela Extension, as well as the housing construction in Riverpark which was abandoned before completion in 2009.
As a member of the housing mayoral committee, Mbingeleli said that previously the city only had authority to manage State housing under the Joburg Social Housing Company. He added that while acknowledging residents’ frustration in the delay of housing completions and allocations, the illegal invasion could not be condoned.
“The invasions, which are mostly done [under] the cover of darkness, are criminal acts and part of an anarchical campaign [with] ulterior motives,”he said.
“Law abiding residents know the procedures to be used in expressing their demands, and also the process followed when allocating the houses. Criminals are trying to exploit the desperation for houses to force council to circumvent correct procedures so that they can sneak into the houses which they don’t qualify for.”
Mbingeleli also said there was a need for educational campaigns to make communities aware of the criminal elements bent on sabotaging council’s development programmes and procedures.
Meanwhile, he urged residents to exercise patience with the development agency as it was still transitioning from the Alexandra Renewal Project.
