We will deal with illegal occupation of RDP houses in Diepsloot - Mokonyane 7 July 2004 Gauteng Housing MEC, Nomvula Mokonyane, has stressed that her department will not stand for any illegal occupation of RDP houses in Diepsloot. Mokonyane further added that an investigation into the alleged illegal occupation and allocation of RDP houses in the area is underway. "I wish to stress that the illegal occupation of houses will not be tolerated at all and we are going to deal with any group or individual that attempts to instigate other people to be involved in illegal and violent activities. As part of addressing the housing problem in the area, a process of investigating how these houses were occupied, and any other allegations of corruption on housing allocation, is underway and will be accelerated," Mokonyane said. The City of Johannesburg , as the implementing agency of housing projects in the area, and officials from the Department of Housing are already interacting with reliable local leaders in order to ascertain the origin of the false rumour that has resulted in people damaging property and causing mayhem in the area. The Department of Housing has been liaising with people who were relocated to Diepsloot from Alexandra and did not qualify for housing. A special process is already in progress to deal with their problems without being taken out of Diepsloot. Mokonyane said her department "will not have sympathy for individuals arrested after being suspected of being involved in acts of criminality and that the law will take its cause and no negotiations will be entered into for their release". The police and other law enforcement agencies are expected to act swiftly to ensure that no roads are closed or property damaged and will deal with any person or situation that poses a security threat. Mokonyane said that "future engagement with local structures and credible leaders will happen in order to discuss initiatives that will benefit the community of Diepsloot as a whole not just few individuals who have their own political agendas". For more information contact: 7 July 2004
|
