Lesufi vows to 'crush' illegal informal settlements
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has vowed to demolish illegal informal settlements as the province continues to grapple with the mushrooming of shacks.
The premier said the evictions will be carried out while squatters are sleeping.
Gauteng has recorded more than 400 new informal settlements recently in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and other regions.
Lesufi said majority of the land grabs are often led by foreign nationals.
He said they will strengthen partnerships with municipalities, and proactive measures will be taken to halt further land grabs.
Lesufi briefed the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
"If we have to meet in court, let it be, but we are going to destroy those informal settlements. If there is an informal settlement that is not registered, it must be crushed'," he said.
"The majority of this new informal settlement is people that are not documented in our country. We're not going to allow that.
"We've been abused, it's enough. We are going to dismantle this informal settlement at 2 am."
Gauteng is facing a huge housing backlog, and high levels of poverty and unemployment, which are often the factors that make formal housing unaffordable and inaccessible for many, leading them to settle on vacant or illegally occupied land where they establish informal dwellings.
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