Land ownership halts better living conditions
"The CoJ is providing services to the community, but cannot conclude upgrading and formalisation processes until land ownership status is resolved,” said Mr Mamabolo.
Residents from the Mangolongolo Informal Settlement are faced with the possibility of never receiving better living conditions.
According to the Gauteng Human Settlement MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, the settlement can only be upgraded when the land ownership issue is resolved.
The settlement is built illegally on land belonging to Transnet.
“As Mangolongolo is on Transnet land, my view is that the settlement should be formalised and upgraded with services. Residents can be given title deeds so that they have a sense of ownership,” said the DA Gauteng Constituency Head, MPL Jack Bloom.
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is providing what it can to Mangolongolo residents, but there are limitations to the services the CoJ can provide.
“The CoJ is providing services to the community, but cannot conclude upgrading and formalisation processes until land ownership status is resolved,” said Mr Mamabolo.
The Mangolongolo settlement has been in existence for over 15 years.
The settlement has been plagued by fires over the years, as shacks are spaced too closely together and there is no readily available water for firefighting.
“Many of the dwellings are solid structures built of brick. It is not a good location. It is near a railway line, but there are few other housing options for the 1 500 people who live there.
“The DA has drawn up a petition asking for the formalisation and upgrading of the settlement, including electrification and adequate water and sanitation, and more than 150 residents have already signed the petition which will be handed in to the Petitions Office at the Gauteng Legislature.
“The best policy will be to give them ownership of this state land, which will assist in upgrading efforts that will provide certainty for the families who live there and prevent further devastating fires,” said MPL Bloom.
The Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland has been existence for more than 10 years. Residents in this settlement also face unfavourable living conditions.
The settlement is built on private land and now the residents are faced with a challenge of never receiving any infrastructure upgrades because the land is privately owned.
According to the residents, the CoJ is currently in negotiations with the land owner.
“The council does have money to purchase the Jumpers land, but the problem is that there are mining tunnels underneath and it may not be suitable for permanent housing.
“Jumpers is in a ward held by the DA and DA ward councillors have always done their best to assist them in various ways. I have assisted with a donation of solar lights and a product that sanitizes the pit toilets there,” said MPL Bloom.
The EXPRESS made numerous attempts to obtain comment from the MMC for Housing, Clr Bonakelo Bovu.
Clr Bovu’s phone was off during the numerous calls to his cellular phone.
Attempts to obtain a response from the CoJ’s spokesperson, Nthatisi Mondingoane, were also unsuccessful as the EXPRESS’ calls were unanswered.
