Wolwespruit wetland secured, illegal squatters evicted
Ward 83 councillor Andrew Lesch says the squatters were removed and resettled on July 13. The area where the informal camp was located falls within a flood line and is considered unfit for human habitation.
Relief has set in for residents of Erasmuskloof, Moreleta Park, Mooikloof and surrounding suburbs as the metro managed to finally relocate scores of squatters who have occupied the Wolwespruit wetland on the corner of Solomon Mahlangu Drive and Delmas Road.
The squatters who for years made the wetland their home were resettled and removed from the property on July 13, according to Ward 83 councillor Andrew Lesch.
The land where the camp was situated is within a flood line and not suited for human settlements, as there is a stream of water that runs through the area.
It was illegally occupied by South African residents and foreign nationals from Lesotho and Zimbabwe, who have indicated that the area is convenient for waste sorting and close to their workplace.
For years, the removal of the land invaders had involved a drawn-out legal process, with human rights lawyers blocking every attempt of the city and the residents to evict the squatters.
Lesch said the occupation of the wetland has been a major source of concern for many years, but the number of people increased while efforts were made to evict them.
“For years, the community and business in this area suffered several power outages due to cable theft, increased crime, smoke pollution and pollution due to noise and illegal recycling,” he explained.
He said some of the people in the informal settlement were involved in crime.
“We also experienced several cases of illegal dumping by people and even some local businesses. Previous attempts at eviction and/or resettlement were met by objections and court interdicts. Now I can confirm they have been resettled.”
He said, however, there are still a few people camping outside the property on the corner of Nossob Street and Solomon Mahlangu Drive.
“The Human Settlements Department will be dealing with them as soon as possible,” he said.
Lesch said over the past two years, he has put in a lot of effort and consulted with many departments and people to find a permanent solution, but also to reactivate the efforts of the Tshwane metro to finalise the resettlement.
“The process of removing the squatters has been coming for years, with multiple previous mayors involved in possible relocations.”
Lesch added that the teams involved in the relocations have explored different options and tried different funding models to resolve the matter.
“Different departments of the City of Tshwane, community members and NPOs assisted. I could not always communicate what exactly was done because the information could be used to stall the efforts, as in the past,” he explained.
“The relocation was also important to ensure that the people who lived on the land were moved to a suitable environment. Our wetlands are protected, and it is heart-breaking to see the level of decay and pollution in this area.”
According to Lesch, the property is now guarded, and repair of the fences has started.
“Rehabilitation will be done, and I am thankful for those who committed to assist with the rehabilitation process. From my observation, the basic rehabilitation may take several weeks to months to complete.”
He said the resettlement now opens the way or planned development on nearby properties to go ahead, and for the protection of the environment to gain momentum.
“I must thank everyone in the community who supported me in this effort, especially those who lifted me up during the times that things did not progress as planned.”
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