The residents of the settlement bordering Lanseria International Airport, have pleaded for the installation of drains, proper sanitation and electricity in the area.
The settlement was established in 1996, and according to community leader David Mogatle, they have pleaded for basic service delivery for the past 10 years.
The recent storms which have wreaked havoc across Johannesburg have taken a considerable toll on the gravel roads, creating sinkholes across the settlement.
Malatjie remains zoned for agricultural dwellings, and the storms destroyed the majority of crops in the area and eroded the soil.
Ward 96 councillor Matome Mafokwane, who has lobbied and been in talks with government for changes in the area, has stated that government agencies have ignored the issue because the settlement is on private land.
There has been a high incidence of illnesses due to the lack of sanitation and appropriate drainage systems. To compound the situation, medical services do not move through the settlement, and there are no clinics in the surrounding areas.
The need for clean water is desperate. David Mogatle stated that Joburg Water has set up tanks in the settlement and fills them up twice a day.
With most of the housing in the built primarily from wood and corrugated iron sheets, Mogatle added that they need well-built, sustainable housing with proper drainage, plumbing and electricity.
Mafokwane has set up meetings with government officials and agencies who will review the area in the hopes of adding weight to the community’s plea for proper service delivery.
