Joe Slovo residents to be evicted to make way for the construction of new houses
Mluleki
Mrwebi
28
May 2013
The Western Cape Human Settlements Department
will tomorrow forcefully remove about five house holds in informal settlements
in Joe Slovo, Langa.
MEC for Human Settlements Bonginkosi
Madikizela said the department together with the Housing Development Agency has
built 588 units but the remaining 2051 units can not be built because the
residents are blocking the area.
The department has set aside about R480
million for the project in Joe Slovo Phase 3.
Madikizela said the five households are
refusing to move even though they signed a court order on the 16th of April 2013 agreeing to move
but they have not done so. The court order stipulates that the residents would
be relocated to a vacant site and they would be assisted by the department.
Madikizela further said the refusal to move-
despite multiple attempts by the HDA to engage with them over the last year and
signing a court order, means that the department of Human Settlements has been
unable to proceed with the construction of 2051 houses which will benefit
thousands of families who earn less than R3500 per month. This is why the
department has had no option but to apply for the relocation order so that the
housing project can continue and the South African Police Services will support
this enforcing order.
The MEC stressed that no one will be left
homeless after the eviction.
Makizela added that while the rights of
every household needs to be recognised but these must be balanced with rights
of the 500 000 people waiting for formal housing in the province. It is unacceptable
that five households are preventing the construction of houses in the Joe Slovo
area.
The forced removal is schedule for
Wednesday at mid-day.
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