Lesufi warns of 'unprecedented number of evictions and dismantling of informal settlements' in Gauteng

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government has warned of an “unprecedented number of evictions” in some of the province’s newly formed informal settlements.

The province estimates there have been more than 400 informal settlements that have mushroomed up in Gauteng over the past year.

At a media briefing in his Johannesburg office on Wednesday, Premier Panyaza Lesufi, said this matter was top of the agenda at the recent executive committee (exco) lekgotla.

Lesufi said the exco resolved there was an urgent need for a coordinated action plan to prevent land invasions and ensure there was compliance with housing and land-use regulations.

"We come to you to declare that, unfortunately, there are going to be an unprecedented number of evictions and dismantling of informal settlements in our province. The number of informal settlements that are mushrooming even in our urban areas and in some areas within our cities is now reaching disturbing levels and we have no choice but to fight back.”

During the media briefing, Lesufi was asked where the evicted people will be relocated to.

He said there is a waiting list for people in line to get government houses.

“Our approach is simple. The housing waiting list is for South Africans and we don’t want people who are not on the waiting list and because they are not on the waiting list, they think the shortest possible way is for them to create. The Khampepe Commission does not encourage land invasion, it just brings the urgent need for us to invest and increase our budget in low-cost housing."