Lesufi vows to relocated displaced West Rand residents in 7 days’ time

Some West Rand residents who were driven away from their homes by zama zamas said they are cautiously optimistic following a visit by government officials on Thursday.

Over the past two weeks, more than 600 people from the Sporong informal settlement have been sleeping at the Randgate community hall, west of Johannesburg.

On Wednesday they were visited by senior officials from the Gauteng government.

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Cheering and loud sighs of relief surfaced when Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi told the displaced residents they would be relocated in seven days.

Emma Mosethi, who lives in the hall with her two-year-old toddler, said she hopes the promises made on Thursday will be kept.

"We are happy because they have intervened. They ignored us for a long time, so it’s encouraging that they came here and heard our complaints directly," she said.

One of the community leaders, Thembela Conjwa, said he hopes no one is left behind when the relocation process starts.

"The options that are on the table is that we have to vacate this place. In seven days, there has to be a solution brought up to this problem we are having. So, if they are starting to allocate, it’s a good thing, but the problem is that within seven days, they will allocate those who have been already approved. But what about those who are still waiting for subsidies? What about those who have not yet registered? What are they going to do with them?"

The Department of Human Settlements has already set up a makeshift workstation at the hall and is recording the details of the displaced people.