Councillor denies giving people permission to occupy land in Johannesburg

Scores of people have been clearing this field in Ennerdale, Johannesburg for the past week so they can erect their structures. Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department continues to monitor the area. Photos: Silver Sibiya

• Backyarders and tenants who say they could no longer afford to pay rent have been clearing an open field in Ennerdale’s Ward 7 in Johannesburg for a week now.
• City of Johannesburg officials say the parcel of land near James Street has already been earmarked to build more than 700 RDP houses.
• But some occupiers are sceptical, saying the land has been vacant for years.

Scores of backyarders and tenants who say they could no longer afford to pay rent have been clearing an open field in Ennerdale’s Ward 7 in Johannesburg for a week now.

The situation at the parcel of land near James Street remains tense on Friday morning as the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) continues to monitor the area.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said, “The JMPD is aware of the matter and the Regional Command is in the process of actioning the relevant service providers who will assist in removing demarcations, half-built and unoccupied structures.”

On Thursday, people – old and young – were using spades, pickaxes, machetes, and other tools to clear the field and demarcate stands to build their structures.

Ward 7 councillor Lois Simonse (Patriotic Alliance) told GroundUp that people were frustrated over the the lack of affordable housing options in Ennerdale and surrounding areas. Simonse rubbished allegations that she had encouraged residents to occupy the land for political gain, saying she had only agreed that they could clear the tall grass as a deterrent for crime there.

Simonse urged residents not to occupy the land before the elections. She promised to meet with the occupiers once council reconvenes after the elections.

However, the land they are clearing is already earmarked to build 750 government subsidised houses.

Community leader Lenyatso Ntholeng said, “It cannot be correct to be removed from the land because we have nowhere to stay. We cannot afford to rent.

“We only want people from Ward 7 which is Finetown, Ennerdale, Meriting, Lawley and Kokotela informal settlements. We expect about 400 structures here,” he added.

Land occupiers waiting to secure their plots in Ennerdale.

“If any development is going to happen here, it will happen when we are already here,” Ntholeng said.

Franscina Lesenyeho said she was there to secure space for her 31-year-old son. “I have two children and three grandchildren. Although my son works, he can’t afford to buy a house,” she said.

She said she was not aware that RDP houses were to be built there. “Why now?” asked Lesenyeho. “I’ve been staying here since 1992. This land was left like this all these years. People were being killed and hijacked cars were abandoned here. By moving in here we are not only helping ourselves, we are stopping crime,” she said.

Mzihleli Bhengu (ANC) is a ward committee leader in Ward 7. He warned against using people to occupy land for political gain. “They are creating an area that is not recognised, and soon they will be fighting for services and will suffer.”

Councillor Simonse confirmed that a budget has been approved for the construction to start in the area. “The project was supposed to start in 2021 but didn’t due to the Covid restrictions. We are still waiting for the sewer pipes to be approved but there is no allocation. About R83-billion was approved this week [by Council], but is yet to be allocated,” she said.

Simonse said they will know after elections how much has been allocated to her ward for human settlement.

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