Mooiplaats relocation in PTA suspended
The scheduled relocation of residents of an informal settlement in Pretoria to a new permanent home had to be halted on Monday due to resistance from the community.
The City of Tshwane said on Monday it had to temporarily abandon its plans to relocate Mooiplaats residents to Olievenhoutbosch Extensions 27 and 42 after they encountered resistance from the community, which was being led by the South African National Civics Association (Sanco).
In a statement, the City said: “The disruption caused by these residents has necessitated a temporary delay in the relocation so as to ensure that the City’s plans are implemented with ease, under safe and secure conditions and with the acceptance of the community.”
The decision to relocate residents of the Mooiplaats informal settlement was necessary because the land they were living on was privately owned, the area was dolomitic and was close to a privately-owned landfill site, which posed serious health risks to the community.
In terms of the relocation plans, 759 families were to be moved to permanent serviced stands in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 60 with all their belongings.
The City said it had enlisted a service provider to dismantle, transport and re-build the shacks at the new site.
“The second phase of the relocation will be a further 840 families from Mooiplaats and Choba informal settlements to houses in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 27,” the City said.
“This process will only begin once the houses are completed and occupation certificates are issued by the City. Currently the houses are being built by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and are at various stages of completion.”
MMC for Community Safety and Leaders of Council Business Terence Mashego visited the communities of Mooiplaats and Olievenhoutbosch on Monday, where he received a memorandum of their concerns about the proposed relocation and the transparency of the process.
Executive Mayor of Tshwane Kgosientso Ramokgopa said: “Despite today’s temporary set-back the City is pleased that meaningful engagements with all stakeholders with a common development objective of accelerating our efforts to provide decent housing opportunities and security of tenure to our people has borne fruit.”
Ramokgopa, along with Olievenhoutbosch community leaders, condemned the destruction of property and called for dialogue to address the genuine concerns about the relocation to Olievenhoutbosch. They also called on the South African police and Metro Police to ensure public safety in the area.
“We trust that the affected Mooiplaats families will revel at their new home and settle in with no trouble. Residents at Olievenhoutbosch are encouraged to welcome their neighbours to facilitate peaceful co-existence as brothers and sisters as we build a better Tshwane for all,” said Ramokgopa.
“We remain committed under the Re Aga Tshwane programme to fast-track the process of formalising informal settlements and providing decent housing opportunities and rudimentary services to our people, and reiterate that the decision to relocate the Mooiplaats informal settlement was taken after the City of Tshwane engaged with all stakeholders intent on accelerating our efforts to provide decent and secure housing to our people.”
Ramokgopa is scheduled to convene another community meeting at Olievenhoutbosch on Tuesday evening in a bid to address the concerns of the residents.
The City did not say when it expected the relocation to resume.