​​​The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing in the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Mlungisi Mabaso, joined Housing officials and Region D Councillor from Ward 15 to address the issuing out of houses at Phiri Hall on Wednesday, 18 May 2022.

The meeting focused on the reallocation of individuals who own two-roomed houses in Soweto, who will be given houses or flats at Fleurhof and Lufhereng and to convert others into four-roomed houses.

The new and remodeled housing would be given to residents who applied for houses post-apartheid and those who are willing to vacate their homes for better living conditions.

“We going to prioritise individuals who applied for houses in 1996 and 1997 before we can start with those from 2000. Soweto is one of the biggest regions in Joburg, hence it seems like there’s a delay in the process of issuing of houses.

“In Region F we are done with people from 1996 to 1997 and our focus in now on Region D. We want to bring change and development to our people and we cannot do that without you working closely with us. We need you people of Soweto,” said MMC Mabaso.

He mentioned that the City’s Department of Housing has helped some informal settlements in Region G and D with the provision of running water, sewer and electricity. Over 12 850 homes in four Joburg informal settlements have been electrified in the past financial year and more are in line of being switched on in the coming months as the City’s multimillion-rand electrification programme gathers pace.

The number of homes that have been provided with power over this period included the 2 292 that were recently switched on under the Eskom Electrification Programme at the Protea South informal settlement in Soweto in the City’s Region D.

“If there’s someone who wants to move from Region D for another house, let it be but the City shouldn’t forcefully remove individuals from their houses. Some houses are sentimental to people as some grew up there and share great memories from childhood,” said one of the residents, Bheki Mlangeni.

Another resident complained that some houses were illegally occupied by foreigners.

“Before we can address issues of reallocation, perhaps is time we talk about people who occupy these houses illegally, people who are not South Africans but own houses and people who sell and buy these houses that belongs to our forefathers.

“Our mothers and fathers died before they can own houses but today foreigners own houses in our neighbourhoods. Such issues needs to be discussed in higher offices,” said Tika Hendricks.

In his response, Cllr Mabaso urged residents to be patient as the City was working towards service delivery and issuing out of houses to accommodate as many residents as possible to provide an interim relief in a form of basic services and to address the sanitation backlog in informal settlements, among others.

“People of Soweto, we know that you need houses of your own and it’s been years being promised this but please be careful of fake news and people who ask for money in exchange of houses. That’s not how things work. Having a house without a title deed is the same as not having a house, so please be careful of that,” said Ward 15 Councillor Vusimuzi Ngema.

Written by Gontse Hlophe
19/05/2022