Media statement of the Gauteng Provincial Secretariat of the ANC-led Alliance on demolition of houses and land invasion

25 November 2012

Over the past two weeks, the Provincial leadership of the ANC-led Alliance structures in Gauteng Province (ANC, SACP, COSATU and SANCO) have been engaging with Lenasia residents and Gauteng Department of Housing & Local Government to try and find an amicable and lasting solution to the problem that led to government decision to demolish houses built on illegally purchased state land in Lenasia Extension 4 & 13.

The intensive interaction and engagement has led to a climate of cooperation and mutual understanding between the Department and the victims of illegal sale of land and families affected by the demolition of houses. This resulted in the agreement between the Department and the Human Rights Commission, which has been made a court order. The demolition of houses and other structures has now been put on hold, while a lasting solution is being pursued with the full cooperation of those affected by the illegal sale of state land.

The Alliance Secretariat reaffirms the following principles:

• The provision and access to decent shelter is one of the pillars of the Freedom Charter and as contained in the 2009 ANC election manifesto. The Alliance remains committed to ensure that government delivers quality houses faster to all our people, particularly the working class and poor;
• At all times, the ANC-led government should adopt a posture of a caring and clean government that has capacity to provide service to all our people, especially the working class and the poor;
• We remain committed to building a developmental state that can decisively tackle crime and corruption, lawlessness and anarchy in all their manifestations such as illegal land invasion, illegal sale of state land and violent destruction public property. All perpetrators of these illegal acts have to be brought to book, including government officials who collude with syndicates.

The Alliance Secretariat has adopted the following programme of action to ensure that all problems which led to the unfortunate demolition of houses in Lenasia and other parts of Gauteng are resolved a sustainable and amicable way and prevented:

1. All the parties should cooperate to give effect to the agreement between the Department and the SA Human Rights Commission.
2. Mobilise the community by calling on the affected residents and all those with claims of land and house ownership acquired through these allegedly corrupt practices to submit all documents and information relating to the acquisition and ownership of houses. This information will then be used to address the individual circumstances of each affected family or resident.
3. There should be a differentiated approach to the problems faced by affected families and each case must be dealt with on its merit. Remedies will include various forms of redress in case of demolished houses depending on its facts and circumstances.
4. We further call for firm action to prevent any illegal land invasions as well as rampant looting and illegal sale of state land. Alliance Secretariat agreed to mobilise our structures and broad sections of the working class to fight all forms of anarchy, lawlessness and corruption from all class forces in society, the state, business and communities. Government must act against anyone who continues with building of structures on illegal purchase and opportunistic occupation of land.
5. We have already met with the MEC and HoD of Housing & Local Government, on Friday 23rd November 2012, to roll out a plan.

We are looking forward to a concrete and clear plan from the MEC of Housing and Local Government to implement this set of agreed interventions.

We also welcome the decision of National Cabinet to lend its weight to the process of finding a lasting and amicable solution to the illegal sale and occupation of state land and the current consequent demolition of houses.

Issued by the Alliance Secretariat:

David Makhura (ANC Provincial Secretary) - 082 773 1654
Jacob Mamabolo (SACP Provincial Secretary) - 082 884 1868
Dumisani Dakile (COSATU Provincial Secretary) - 082 727 1422
Lucas Qakaza (SANCO Provincial Secretary) - 082 852 4214

For more information contact Dumisa Ntuli at 011- 227 9303 or 0823711158