Residents sign petition to remove illegal occupants on Old Johannesburg Road
The petition informs the officials that the “current situation is posing a health risk to the community”. Also that the “safety of community members are being threatened” by the situation “as is clearly evident from rising crime statistics in the area”.
Residents from Rooihuiskraal North and Wierda Park in Centurion furnished relevant officials with a petition to remove illegal occupants from Old Johannesburg Road R101.
“I have received numerous complaints from residents about people occupying the sidewalks of the Old Johannesburg Road R101 between Lenchen Avenue and Hendrik Verwoerd Road,” said DA councillor of ward 69, Cindy Billson.
The petition informs the officials that the “current situation is posing a health risk to the community”. Also that the “safety of community members are being threatened” by the situation “as is clearly evident from rising crime statistics in the area”.
The residents subsequently demanded “the removal of illegal occupiers and vendors”.
Sean O’Brien (55) from Rooihuiskraal North said residents communicated their concerns on their community group, and also met two weeks ago to discuss the issue.
“I signed the petition because we are concerned that the number of occupants in our area grow at an alarming rate and it doesn’t seem that the authorities have a grip on this problem,” O’Brien said.
“We have for the past five years endeavoured to get this issue resolved, to no avail. Except for it being an eyesore in the neighbourhood, we believe that occupants definitely contribute to the rising crime levels in our area,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien said he believed everyone concerned realises that there are no quick solutions since people with lives and livelihoods are involved, “however, it cannot be used any longer as an excuse to avoid taking action”.
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Lindiwe Twala (50), also from Rooihuiskraal North, said she signed the petition because “I want to ask in good faith that the authorities in power give us feedback on how they are going to address this problem”.
“I travel on the Old Johannesburg Road every day and I am really concerned at the rate the neighbourhood is deteriorating,” Twala said.
“The problem is that these people live in the open, they jump over residents’ fences to gain access to water and such,” she said.
Yolandi Bauchop (38) from Wierda Park said she also signed the petition.
“Residents find it unsettling that the occupants are increasingly squatting right next to residents’ fences or walls,” she said.
“I am also aware that female pedestrians are being harassed continuously in that area. It definitely affects the safety of the area,” Bauchop said.
Bauchop said she is working in the health industry, and health and environmental issues also concern her greatly.
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“Circumstances are perilous and there are children involved, and community members also suffer because of that.”
Billson said residents also complained that the occupiers sell food, carpets, plants and garden décor.
“Many residents complain about the pollution from open fires, with some residents reporting experiencing problems with breathing and problems with their sinuses, and there is also the littering caused by the occupiers,” she said.
“There are also complaints about blocked drains, especially when it rained and all the rubbish washes down. And, of course, the smell of urine and faecal matter is unbearable.”
Fred Nel, DA shadow MEC for the Department of Roads and Transport, confirmed that he received the said petition from the residents.
“I have submitted the petition to the Gauteng Legislature for its petition committee to hold hearings on the matter.
“I am engaging the provincial department directly to see whether they can intervene quicker in respect of the maintenance matters.”
According to Lindela Mashigo, spokesperson for Tshwane metro, “our metro police department is looking into the matter”.
Provincial Department spokesperson, Theo Nkonki said the department had not yet received the petition; however, “an inspection will be conducted to establish the encroachment”.
“The Department of Traffic Engineering will conduct a study and establish safety measures,” Nkonki said.
Residents can give their input to the acting regional manager Sipho Mthombeni at 081 431 3886.
Rekord tried to obtain comment from some of the illegal occupants but was met with hostility.
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