Mgongo residents protest ‘zama zama invasion’ on promised housing land

Residents of the Mgongo informal settlement took to the streets this morning (Wednesday) to protest what they describe as the invasion of their land by zama zamas. The protesters set fires, and barricaded Location Road with rocks and other objects.

According to a document seen by the Brakpan Herald, authored by unknown persons but addressed to interested beneficiaries about the protest, the land belongs to City of Ekurhuleni’s Real Estate in partnership with the Human Settlement Department, and was reserved in 2016 for housing development.

It is alleged in the document that the land is currently “illegally occupied by thugs in the form of a so-called company”.

It is further alleged that the owner of the company is known to target old mining shafts, claiming to be rehabilitating the area, but instead mines the area illegally.

This issue was raised at the SAPS stakeholders meeting in May, where a claim was made that land rehabilitation projects are being used as a cover for illegal mining activities with the permit holders digging holes for the zama zamas.

Police gave their assurance at the meeting that this would be investigated and they would consult the relevant authorities involved.

The author/s of the document claim local leaders have attempted to stop this operation but have been failed by law enforcement authorities.

It is stated that they have come to believe that there is a serious need for a thorough investigation into why local police authorities are justifying this mining operation on municipal land.

They also claim there are no legal documents to prove the legitimacy of the operation.

“We are going to stop this operation, which is in the way of our development because we have beneficiaries waiting for their houses to be built,” reads the document.

Housing project
In November 2019, the Herald reported the city appointed a contractor for the Old Brakpan Location Mixed Use Housing Project and phase one of the development was underway. This phase of the project was for bulk infrastructure and the expansion of the road.

The information shared at the time was that the bulk infrastructure will only be installed to the left of Location Road (if travelling towards Hospital Road), the same side where the site is being established.

The opposite side of the road will be part of a different phase. Officials met with occupants of the informal settlement in the area at the time and explained that many of them will not qualify for housing once houses have been erected as not all will meet the requirements.

They will also not be included simply because they are there. It was also stated at the time that the housing project will still be a lengthy process and houses won’t be seen soon. The development looks to house approximately 7 000 families once completed.

The City of Ekurhuleni first confirmed in 2017 that the Brakpan Extension 13 Development was certain to happen.

As for the people living illegally on the land in the hope that they can lay claim to houses once they have been built, it was explained that the development will be integrated and consist of subsidised houses, bonded houses, etc. and that the acquisition of subsidised houses will be totally dependent on the beneficiary administration process.

It was also confirmed at the time that residents from the Plastic City informal settlement will be moved to the area.
Comment is awaited from Brakpan SAPS and the CoE.