An Erasmuskloof ward councillor has called on residents to sign an online petition to stop a new squatter camp from forming on an open field in the area.
Councillor Francois Bekker urged members of the community to sign a petition titled “STOP!!! – The Looming Plastic View, Erasmuskloof”.
The field is located near the Nossob Street and Solomon Mahlangu Drive intersection.
It is home to vagrants who live there permanently and have erected structures.
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The field is believed to be owned by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).
The petition was to make residents’ voices heard and get PIC to act in this regard, he said.
Residents and businesses complained about litter by vagrants, open fires and the stream being used as a “toilet”.
The PIC claims it is not responsible as the portion on which the vagrants are living is the responsibility of the municipality.
“That portion of the land is under the ownership of the Tshwane metro,” said PIC spokesperson Sekgoela Sekgoela.
ALSO READ: ‘New Plastic View’ on the horizon
“We, on behalf of the government employees’ pension fund, bought one part at an auction from the City.
“The metro retained the other part, which extends from the stream.”
Sekgoela said the portion of the land which belonged to the PIC was earmarked for a mixed-use development consisting of retail, offices, a gym and possible hotel development.
The development is currently at the town planning stage.
Bekker admitted that the spruit belonged to the metro, but said the sale agreement stipulated that the PIC take responsibility for the entire site, including the spruit area.
Bekker said the PIC had to take sufficient steps to secure the area and prevent access by vagrants.
“They committed themselves in a meeting to keep the area clean and secure,” he said.
“They erected a fence with huge gaps allowing access. They need to fence it properly and provide security.”
Plastic View, formerly known as Woodlane Village, is an informal settlement in Moreleta Park in the east of Pretoria which houses more than 3 000 people.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Third fire engulfs Plastic View
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