Stop all Rotary Grounds and Frankenwald developments, says SACP

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has called on the City of Johannesburg to halt with immediate effect controversial temporary housing projects to allow for what it called ‘a proper consultation process’ with residents to take place.

The housing development is being constructed at Rotary Grounds next to KwaMadala Hostel in Alexandra and in Frankenwald. The party said it viewed the impending development in the two areas as an attempt by City authorities to siphon off funds that were earmarked to fund the fight against Covid-19, as the plans were hatched during the lockdown period.

In a statement issued by SACP Sub-District 5 co-ordinator, Trevor Maluleka, it claimed the City had ‘conceived, developed and set in motion its plan when the world, and particularly our country South Africa, was engaged in an intense fight against the outbreak of the Covid-19 global pandemic which necessitated a complete shutdown to its activities through regulations that kept citizens the world over under lock and key indoors’.

“We all agree that consultation was impossible during the different alert levels imposed by the government during this period. We take note that the Rotary Grounds was never redundant ever since its inception, and is used by children from the length and breadth of Alexandra, particularly surrounding schools and by the Maimane Alfred Phiri Games,” Maluleka said.

He pointed out that in the past, the City had built numerous temporary transit villages in townships that had now turned into permanent residential areas since people had been relocated there for many years and were still waiting their turn to benefit from housing developments. “What will stop this one from also turning permanent,” Maluleka asked.

He cited temporary transit villages that had since turned into permanent settlements as Setshwetla, Alex Transit Village that is better known as Vezunyawo, the Organic Market, Marlboro Camp, Silver Town, Green Village, Dan Bovu Village, and a lot more people in rental rooms in Extensions 9 and 10. “That temporary village at the Rotary Grounds has nothing to do with the betterment of the lives of the people of Madala Hostel or the entirety of Alexandra but creates an impression of people who wanted to loot the Covid-19 funds,” Maluleka alleged.

“We know that regular tender beneficiaries are already lining up to benefit from the unscrupulous tender procurements as they usually do. “We want that to come to a stop so that our community and country can go forward in development.” Maluleka noted that people had already started making attempts to invade the land in Frankenwald, hence this necessitated a bold move from the City to consult the people of Alexandra, if that land should finally be made available for the development of houses.

“You can’t do something for the people without them,” he emphasised.

The City acknowledged Alex News’ request for comment and said they would respond in due course.

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