Ward 112 residents in Noordwyk picket on corner Lever Road and Vodacom Boulevard
The unhappy residents demand the removal of illegal land grabbers on open land in the area and more stringent enforcement of the by-laws.
Angry Ward 112 residents in Noordwyk, Midrand, held a picket on the corner of Lever Road and Vodacom Boulevard against illegal land grabs in the area.
This happened on November 23 with the aim of addressing lawlessness in the area which included the squatters on an open piece of land next to Monica’s Place and Lever Road.
They are also unhappy with unlawful property developments and rentals, disregarded traffic rules, illegal dumping, and unregulated street vendors who were mushrooming in various streets of the suburb.
Also read: Ward 112 councillor aware of illegal dwellers
Some motorists drove past about 25 picketing residents, supporting them with hooters, while others parked their cars to join them.
The illegal dwellers are believed to have moved onto the open land around 2019 or so.
Some of the shacks are made of plastic, zinc, and cardboard and they are directly behind the stand-alone houses.
The picket was attended by Sector 3 Crime Forum members and the Noordwyk Residents Association, among others. However, one notable absentee was Ward 112 councillor Lerato Mphefo. On one of the placards, the residents called for Mphefo’s removal by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Picket convener Bonginkosi Nhlapo said the purpose was to bring the plight of the residents to the attention of the Johannesburg Council, the Gauteng Government, and the Home Affairs/Immigration Department.
Also read: Theft and vandalism of Eskom electricity infrastructure is on the rise
“The deterioration of our suburb [triggered the thought for a picket]. We have these recyclers living rent-free, using water from hydrants, and allegedly damaging infrastructure like vandalising traffic lights and electricity substations to ‘harvest’ cables. They are also removing address numbers from our gates for copper scrap and lately ‘opening street vendor businesses’ that double up as drug selling stations,” said Nhlapo.
He said he would like to see the illegal squatters being removed using by-laws. Nhlapo said they will hold pickets them every two or three months, at different locations.
“We might go to Region A offices next time, Johannesburg Council offices next, Provincial Government offices, and even Pretoria National Government offices,” he said.
When asked what Mphefo’s involvement was, as she did not come to the picket, Nhlapo said, none. “She wouldn’t even give us an acknowledgement letter, indicating that we did inform her about it. She then sent a disturbing message on her WhatsApp Group on the eve of the picket. I will send you a copy. She could have attended and supported it, and used it as a bargaining chip in council. She decided otherwise,” said Nhlapo.
Nhlapo sent Mphefo’s message to the paper, which read, “For any land grabs/land invasion, please call JMPD and get a reference number. If invaders are not removed in 24 hours, please escalate with me with a reference number. It really does not help everyone to let land invaders settle for days, months, or years and expect miracles from a ward councillor. There are rules and processes with everything and need your assistance in maintaining the rule of law. I cannot be and witness [land invasion] at all times without your assistance and participation.”
The paper then contacted Mphefo on November 25, asking for her response regarding mounting calls for her removal and if she was snubbing the picket.
She had not responded at the time of going to print.
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