The City of Johannesburg is ready to relocate residents from the Ginger Park informal settlement in Paulshof, but the operation remains dependent on alternative accommodation being secured for affected South African citizens.

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero confirmed that a court order is in place and said the municipality is finalising accommodation for South African citizens living at the settlement. “Let me just announce to the residents around Paulshof that we have the court order now in place. The only thing that I’m still finalising is where I’m relocating the South African citizens in Ginger Park.”

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Morero said the city is legally required to provide alternative accommodation before removing residents. “Once I remove you, I must provide alternative accommodation. It’s the law and I cannot bypass that part.”

He attributed delays in the settlement to the legal requirements around relocating people who would be displaced, saying the city met with relevant teams and is prepared to implement the removal once accommodation arrangements are finalised. “We are ready to come in; in fact, we are ready even by July,” Morero said. “We are now waiting on the human settlements department to finalise the accommodation arrangements.” He added that businesses around the settlement had committed to fencing the privately owned land once the area had been cleared.

While the relocation remains subject to accommodation arrangements, residents living around Ginger Park say the environmental impact of the settlement has become an increasingly urgent concern. Residents in nearby developments, including Bryan Brook Estate, have previously complained about smoke drifting into their homes, particularly in the evenings.

Residents have described heavy smoke and persistent smells, with some saying they are forced to close their windows and doors when smoke moves into the area.

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Resident Lawrence Manaka, who is RISE Mzansi’s Ward 93 councillor candidate, said the situation has become increasingly concerning, with smoke and waste affecting people living in the surrounding community. He said the waste accumulating around the area was no longer simply a cleanliness issue, and raised concerns about its potential impact on the wider Paulshof community. “Residents in the complex behind Ginger Farm have repeatedly complained about heavy smoke that builds up in the evenings. If this is left unattended, Lonehill risks becoming another Kya Sands, where communities are subjected to heavy smoke and poor air quality daily.”

The complaints are not limited to smoke. Residents have also raised concerns about waste accumulation and a growing rodent problem.

Bryan Brook Estate resident Dawie Mullins said residents had been waiting for meaningful feedback after their concerns were escalated to various municipal departments. Mullins said the rodent infestation had become a serious health concern and was affecting residents’ quality of life.

Residents have also questioned what measures are being taken to address fires and the burning of waste in nearby informal settlements.

Simon Mokwena, from Clay Oven informal settlement, previously acknowledged concerns about smoke and said a meeting had been held to address the issue. “Our neighbours also need to understand that our people are using firewood to cook and keep warm. On the other hand, we have had issues of people burning rubbish in front of our entrance, and that is what the meeting we had was all about, so that they can stop,” Mokwena said.

“The issue of the litter, which we have raised, is something that I must find the teams to go and deal with,” Morero said. “It doesn’t require any form of a court order but to go in and remove whatever is seen as a dumping site so that we can clear that.”

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