Joburg: City manager did not directly authorise Alex demolitions
The office of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba says at no point did the city manager take personal responsibility for the demolition of some 80 structures in Alexandra.
The mayor’s acting spokesperson Olebogeng Molatlhwa says Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni has only taken responsibility insofar as he is the ultimate accounting officer in the city.
On Wednesday, Lukhwareni told an inquiry by the South African Human Rights Commission and the public protector in Braamfontein that he knew about plans to demolish the houses, which were illegally built along the Jukskei River.
During the inquiry, Lukhwareni said he thought the targeted structures were either incomplete or unoccupied.
More than 100 Alexandra residents were left without a roof over their heads after the Red Ants, the police and metro police moved in to demolish the structures on Friday.
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Molatlhwa says this is not to say Lukhwareni directly authorised the demolishing.
"Not to say that he directly issued instructions that those demolitions be carried out. What we do know is that the decision taken, was taken within the JMPD. But as we released a statement yesterday, the mayor has instructed the city manager to launch an independent investigation. The aim of that investigation is to determine the decision-making process, but also to determine who issued the actual instructions that there be demolitions last Friday.
"Basically, the city manager was trying to convey the message that while he did not specifically or directly issue that instruction as the city manager, as the final accounting officer he takes responsibility by virtue of fact that he is the city manager, by virtue of the fact that he holds the office that he holds."
Molatlhwa says the investigation will determine who needs to take responsibility.
"So as of now, we can't say what will happen to whom because we can't say who issued the specific instruction. But again I need to emphasise that the city manager did not directly issue the instruction that there be demolition in Alex."
Molatlhwa believes the local, provincial and national governments need to put their heads together to come up with a plan to improve the lives of the people of Alex.
"Until that happens we really don't foresee how the situation in Alex will be resolved. So ultimately yes, the mayor does care about the situation, but what the mayor insists upon in that when we come before the people of Alex, we shouldn't make promised that we cannot keep."
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