Property owners in Alexandra say they are willing to negotiate with the provincial government over the future of their land, but only if the government valuations reflect the true worth of their properties.

“We are waiting for the government to come up with its own valuations. If they don’t correlate with ours, we will oppose them,” said Ethel Mngomezulu, secretary of Alexandra Property Owners’ Rights (APOR), during a feedback session held Wednesday at Marlboro Community Centre.

Read more: Gauteng government to negotiate with Alexandra property owners

The engagement was convened by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, joined by members of the executive council, Acting Mayor Eunice Mgcina, and several MMCs, to outline next steps in resolving Alexandra’s long-standing land dispute.

Lesufi acknowledged the legitimacy of the landowners’ claims and reiterated the government’s intention to purchase land for development, but stressed the need for mutual agreement. “We must agree on the path we must all take, and that path is to negotiate with property owners and settle compensation matters. But come to those negotiations open-minded.”

Mngomezulu confirmed that property owners have already calculated the value of their land and expect just compensation. She added that the compensation should also extend to families whose land was expropriated and used for hostels and other public developments.

Also read: Motives for selling property

Providing context on property ownership in Alexandra, she explained that original property owners in Alexandra hold free-hold title deeds, granting full and permanent ownership of both land and structures.

She also clarified that the City of Johannesburg was appointed as a guardian, not the owner, of Alexandra during apartheid, when black families were forcibly dispossessed. “The previous government expropriated our properties, and appointed the City of Johannesburg to be the guardian of Alexandra. It is not that it owns it, because it was taken from its original owners.”

Mngomezulu said people of Alexandra do not understand that the land they have occupied belongs to people who own free-hold title deeds. As a result, many have erected informal dwellings on privately owned property. “Those who have built shacks are invaders. We warned them a long time ago, urging them not to waste their money building on our property because we won’t pay them back.”

Lesufi acknowledged these challenges, and admitted that they have also contributed to the regression of Alexandra. That is why his government is determined to address them. He stressed that unresolved questions around land transfer and ownership remain central. “If we cannot resolve that, all other problems in Alexandra are not going to be resolved.”

He said, since their last engagement with property owners earlier this year, the government made progress. This includes the establishment of a committee that will deal with the issues in Alexandra. He proposed a two-week window to initiate committee-level negotiations, focused on valuation and compensation. “I agree we must buy the land to develop it, but we need an acceptable arrangement. That’s the part I want us to start immediately.” He urged all parties to approach the talks with openness.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!