Government project to yield 500 rental houses
LOMBARDY EAST – Joshco denies any request for a meeting by both Glera and Rugheimer.
Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) is unbending on their planned housing project even though residents of Lombardy East are objecting to the idea.
Joshco intends to develop 513 as a response to service delivery to South Africans that qualify for a social housing scheme which is intended to create social inclusivity among communities. The project has however been met with objections mostly worrying that the project will devalue their existing properties in the suburbs.
The Greater Lombardy East Residents’ Association (Glera) has been at the forefront of the matter. As published in the North Eastern Tribune article Land invaders target the Lombardy East housing site [Week ending 5 April], Glera’s chairperson Abey Mamaregane said the objections are due to the concerns raised by the residents in their meetings.
According to Ward 81 councillor Irene Rugheimer, they have requested a meeting with Joshco, Glera, Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and a town planner to try and finalise the go-ahead of the project. Mamaregane added that residents also request that Joshco supply them with development documents of the project so they can familiarise themselves with it.
Joshco has, however, denied receiving any meeting request from either the councillor or the residents’ association and said they will go ahead with the planned project.
Regarding the request to share the development documents of the project, Nthabiseng Mphela, manager of communications and marketing at Joshco said, “No request has been received thus far. Even so, Joshco reserves the right not to share company documents with communities.
“Parties that require development documents may request them directly from Joshco and depending on their concealer-nature, they may be shared. A detailed request may be addressed to the executive concerned.”
Mphela said they are aware that some residents’ believe the project will devalue their properties, generate a lot of traffic and that occupants of the apartments will invade their privacy. She said a court order preventing illegal occupation on the property has been obtained from the South Gauteng High Court and is being enforced.
Mphela concluded that Joshco remains committed and willing to engage with the community to resolve issues of mutual concern.
Details: Johannesburg Social Housing Company 011 406 7308.
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https://northeasterntribune.co.za/228374/tweets-joburg-mayor-herman-mashaba-launches-two-affordable-housing-facilities-inner-city/
