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The City of Johannesburg wishes to express its disappointment at the personal attack against the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso, by the South African Communist Party.
This follows an operation by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department wherein illegal structures in Lawley, south of Johannesburg were demolished.
The statement by the SACP states that the operation was mandated by the Housing MMC and this is false. The City has since the beginning of the national lockdown raised concerns on the substantial increase in land invasions within the City of Johannesburg.
The JMPD through its unit responsible for land invasions and by-law enforcement has been monitoring invasions and acting to contain them as and when they arise. This is a policing function and not a housing mandate.
The City’s Housing department is committed to deliver on its mandate of providing decent housing opportunities to the residents of Johannesburg. This cannot be possible in an environment where there are syndicates who are duping citizens out of their hard-earned money through illegally selling vacant land in the City.
The City is following leads that could result in the arrest of persons involved in this illegal, manipulative and inhumane abuse of the suffering of the poor for material and financial gain. Currently, two persons have been arrested. It is committed in addressing and reversing the apartheid spatial development which excluded the poor from being housed near economic activities.
The leadership of Johannesburg remain committed to providing shelter to the homeless as well as social and affordable housing as part of planned development including the rapid release of land to its people.
Residents are urged to be vigilant, abide by the law and not fall prey to these syndicates.
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