An informal settlement known as Happy Valley, established after residents occupied vacant land in Eldorado Park, has grown to about 150 homes.

Since then, residents continue to call for housing and basic services.

The informal settlement was formed in December 2025 on a vast piece of land at Mapelaberg Road, according to Gauteng Housing Crisis Committee (GHCC) member Keith Duarte.

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After previous land occupations in Eldorado Park, where residents have demanded that authorities address the area’s housing crisis and lack of basic services, the occupation follows.

Duarte said the residents had settled on the land and had not been removed by JMPD.

On October 23, 2025, JMPD dismantled illegal structures in Ext 4. Ward 18 Clr Juwairiya Kaldine stopped the apaprent unauthorised eviction.“Our people came, they set up, and they are still not bothered by JMPD because we have been very loud. We have made it known to government,” Duarte said.

He said that the GHCC was still open to communication with government and other stakeholders about the housing crisis.

Residents face basic service challenges

Happy Valley task team members comprise Leverne Davids, Faried Davids, Neesha Hartley, Kaylin Mayor, Nazeem Gallie, Jannie De Wee, Jovern McLean and Mike Ragebuldt.

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According to Davids, the residents were working together to provide some of the basic services that they needed.

He shared that three taps had been installed in the settlement; however, residents still had to collect water using buckets.

“We must get it to every household. That is a big challenge because finances are not always easy,” he said.

He said they still have a challenge with electricity and sanitation. The lack of basic services has affected the dignity of the residents.

“It strips you of your dignity because now you have to go in the bucket and you have to make sure you bury your waste,” he said.

About 700 residents

Davids said that about 150 homes had been established in Happy Valley, with an estimated 700 people living in the settlement when children were included.

“There are people who still come to request space. We have slightly run out of ground, but we do plan on going up the hill there,” he said.

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Davids said that the task team was trying to plan the settlement while ensuring that residents were not placed in unsafe areas.
Despite all the difficulties, he maintained that the community members had forged a strong sense of unity.

Residents oppose PIE amendments

Duarte said that the GHCC was also opposing proposed amendments to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE).

He said that the committee was concerned about what they believe would be changes to the eviction process and the possible criminalisation of activists involved in land occupations.

He alleged that the amendments proposed will punish activists who engage in land occupations.

“The other thing that we object to is they criminalise activists like myself and organisations across the country that have taken the initiative to occupy pieces of land,” he said.

The GHCC has joined other organisations under the banner Voices Against Evictions to oppose the proposed amendments.

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Duarte said that the group had handed over a memorandum to the Gauteng Premier following a protest march on August 8, giving the province one month to respond.

He said that the deadline had passed without a response.

“We have not received anything from them. So we intend to follow up,” Duarte said.
He mentioned that the group is considering approaching the Constitutional Court if their problems are not solved.

Resident calls for dignity

Happy Valley resident Jovan McLean said that she had moved to the settlement because she could no longer afford rent.

She said that adapting to life without basic services had been difficult.

“It was difficult, knowing that I don’t have water, lights, a proper place to wash and to do my things in,” McLean said.

She expressed her desire to have the community developed and to restore the dignity of its people.

Duarte said that the GHCC would continue to engage government about housing and basic services in Eldorado Park.

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Soweto Urban has enquired with the City of Joburg, the Gauteng Premier’s office and the office of the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlement. A response will be published once the publication receives it.