![]() |
![]() |
Gauteng MEC for Housing Nomvula Mokonyane has warned that her department would not tolerate any illegal occupation of RDP houses in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg.
The ongoing riots in Diepsloot were sparked partly by illegal occupation of government built low cost houses by people who did not qualify for a housing subsidy or who were not meant to be the legal recipients of these houses.
But the department is currently probing the crisis and so far it has discovered about 85 low cost houses occupied by non-intended recipients.
The crisis is also worsened by impatience from Diepsloot residents who were relocated to the areas from Alexandra as part of government's renewal programme in the township.
The relocated residents were removed from endangered shacks that were built along the banks of the Juskei River running through Alexandra due to hazards they faced during rainy seasons in which the river would overflow and submerge nearby shacks.
MEC Mokonyane said an investigation into the illegal occupation and alleged irregular allocation of RDP houses in the area was underway.
Ms Mokonyane said her department would engage with local structures and leaders to discuss initiatives that would benefit the entire Diepsloot community.
"I wish to stress that illegal occupation of houses will not be tolerated at all and we are going to deal with any group or individual that attempts to instigate other people to be involved in illegal occupation of houses and violent activities," she warned.
"As part of addressing the housing problem in the area, a process of investigating how these houses were allocated, and allegations of corruption on housing allocation, is underway and would be accelerated," Ms Mokonyane said.
Provincial housing department spokesperson Mongezi Mnyani today told BuaNews that government housing programme in the areas was meant for all needy people not only for those relocated from Alexandra.
"Houses were allocated to all those who meet the criteria including those from Alexandra. Some people were allocated houses and others were allocated building sites," said Mr Mnyani.
He said however people who realised that they did not meet the set criteria then instigated for illegal occupation of houses.
The crisis then blew out of proportion over the past five days as certain people within the community circulated rumours that government intended to relocate certain residents of Diepsloot to Brits, a small town in North West.
City of Johannesburg, as the implementing housing agency in the area, and officials from the Department of Housing are interacting with local leaders to ascertain the origin of the rumours that have sparked unprecedented riots in this sprawling township.
The department of housing was also liaising with relocated former Alexandra residents who did not qualify for housing in Diepsloot as part of a special process to deal with their problems, it said.
MEC Mokonyane said her earlier on that the department would "not have sympathy on individuals arrested for being involved in acts of criminality and that the law will take its cause and no negotiations will be entered into for their release".
The situation in the area is reportedly calm and police are monitoring the situation.
![]() |
  |
  |
Copyright © 2004 BuaNews. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |