City seeks ministry’s intervention over Booysens informal settlement land
The shacks were built on rail infrastructure used by The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and Transnet.
The MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, has begun discussions with the deputy minister of transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, seeking his intervention about the land where the Booysens informal settlement is.
On January 27, a fire that tore through the Booysens informal settlement left about 436 households destitute.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries reported. It was the fourth fire in the area in five years.
The settlement is on land owned by Prasa and Transnet, complicating the City of Johannesburg’s ability to provide services or implement long-term solutions.
“We have engaged with the Department of Transport. I’ve had a telephone conversation with the deputy minister to find a permanent solution for this area. Since Prasa and Transnet own the property, our hands are tied as a municipality until we receive their consent,” Mabaso explained.
“Previous engagements about this land did not yield results, so I’ve escalated the matter to the deputy minister. We aim to prevent recurring fires and work with the Department of Transport to find a lasting solution.
“Any action we take requires consultation with Prasa and Transnet, as they own the land. We must avoid a situation where providing infrastructure leads to legal challenges. It’s imperative that the property owners are part of any decisions made,” Mabaso added.
The Booysens informal settlement has expanded over the years. The lack of proper access roads hindered firefighters’ ability to respond effectively to the blaze.
The City’s Disaster Management team has begun assessments to address immediate needs and plan for future interventions.
