Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
Date 11/01/1996
The Gauteng Provincial Government, the Greater Johannesburg Metro and four Johannesburg substructures have identified land that could be made available as reception areas to relief the current crisis of land invasions in the next few weeks. A task team that has been formed to look into the question of land invasion in the Greater Johannesburg will report to constitutional structures of local governments and province for final ratification in the next two weeks. Government wants to assure people that they are seriously looking into the issue of land release. However, government will not condone the illegal invasion of land in the province..
Parallel to the creation of reception areas, a process of unblocking blockages that are in the rapid land release programme, which seeks to release land faster, has also been undertaken by government. This move demonstrates the willingness on the part of the government, to release land in the province. This programme will give priority to people, who have been waiting patiently for land to be released by government. It is directed at people who live in stressful, high risk areas and backyard rooms. The success of land delivery rests with the co-operation of the people.
Government cannot allow the on-going illegal invasion of land and the growing problem of homelessness to continue. Government believes the allocation of these reception sites will facilitate the delivery of land for permanent settlements. Whilst these sites are temporary in nature they could be developed into permanent settlements and could be integrated into the urban system and upgraded into sustainable and viable communities with acceptable levels of services.
We are calling on all our people to engage with elected democratic local governments about their land and housing needs and not take the law into their own hands.
Issued by: The MEC for Development Planning, Environment and Public Works, Mr Sicelo Shiceka.