Joburg MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, has ordered the destruction of a structure that prevented the city from rendering services to the residents of the Tladi Camp informal settlement in Soweto.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
The community of Tladi Camp informal settlement in Soweto has welcomed the demolition of a building that has hindered the municipality’s efforts to formalise and upgrade the area.
The demolition comes as part of a broader initiative by the City of Johannesburg, led by Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso.
During his visit to the settlement on Tuesday, situated within Ward 21, Mabaso highlighted the city's ongoing commitment to formalising and upgrading the area.
He recounted earlier attempts to make contact with people connected to the structure. Although the structure was approved by the family of the deceased former owner, efforts were complicated by opposition from a relative.
Mabaso revealed that, until the demolition, the city had successfully instituted water services and ablution facilities.
However, the obstruction caused by the brick-and-mortar structure hindered progress on electrifying the area.
He further indicated that things got to a head when one of the relatives took the city to the Public Protector and the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), who, despite failing in her efforts, insisted on refusing the city's rendering of services to the rest of the community.
"She took us to the Public Protector and the SA Human Rights Commission. However, she was not successful. But she continued to contest the demolition of the house to a point that we ended up taking the matter to court because we wanted to demolish the structure so that we could electrify the informal settlement," the MMC stated.
Thandiwe Tshabalala, a resident of the area, praised the efforts of the MMC and his team, saying that after struggling to access service delivery, the demolition will help the community with the much-needed infrastructure.
"This woman (the owner) is selfish as she wants to benefit unfairly from the municipal infrastructure. We are happy today as residents because Eskom will now install electricity infrastructure. This structure was blocking key infrastructure, including access for emergency services and other services to come to us," she said.
Refiloe Manka, another resident, stated: "We have had problems because of this house. It is in the middle of the street, and those who own it were refusing to make way as they wanted to claim from the government. It has been more than six years since we have had issues with this project."