MMC’s land promise confusion

Now the residents claim that Bovu promised to give them title deeds on 10 February for stands 1075 and 1345 in Rabie Ridge. South African National Civic Organisation Sol Plaatjie branch member Marcus Mojela said the department of housing has also let the landless people of Rabie Ridge down. “We believed MMC Bovu when he said he will give us title deeds. We met with him over the weekend and he showed us an agreement that we will receive the land. It was not the title deed he promised us.”

Mojela said he was not sure if the agreement even actually exists. “The typed letter the residents were shown did not have a stamp and it was not typed on a letterhead. None of these government officials are taking us seriously.”

Department of Housing spokesperson Bubu Xuba denied there was ever talk of title deeds at the meeting with residents. “MMC Dan Bovu did not address title deeds at the meeting in Rabie Ridge; he went to discuss the land which the city [council] had purchased.”

Ward 80 councillor Queen Sikhweqa was present at the meeting. “The land belongs to the City of Joburg so MMC Bovu would not promise to give the residents title deeds. MMC Bovu met the community to show them an agreement that the land was purchased by City of Joburg. Residents must have thought they will get title deeds.”

This comes a week after Midrand Reporter wrote about Ward 80 residents and the City of Joburg.

Last week residents said that in 2011 Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau and the regional director were among the people who came to their ward and promised them land. City of Joburg confirmed that this was true. Applications for the land to be given to the people of Ward 80 had been made but the administration of land ownership was taking time. The civic organisation and City of Joburg failed to meet and discuss their issues pertaining to the land.