The City of Tshwane said it will need about R150 million to relocate residents of Eerste Fabrieke and other informal settlements in and around Mamelodi that were affected by flooding in 2021 and again earlier this year.
However, the City has also confirmed that the Gauteng Government is committed to using a grant to acquire land earmarked for the relocation and the transaction is at “final stage”. The City of Tshwane Human Settlement Department’s group head, Nonto Memela said during a community meeting in Mamelodi that the city will assist with funding for the relocation and for everything including the clearing of the site and the pegging by quantity surveyors. Memela said there are about 650 households relocated to Mooiplaas so far in phase one of the relocation.
“We had a lot of meetings with community leaders to agree on the process. Phase one of the relocation was done after the City acquired two properties in Mooiplaas in 2020 and in total 650 households were relocated. “Those households if you recall, were located in the most vulnerable area as well as some from the old informal settlements to strike that balance, so that was completed,” she said. Meanwhile a group of aggrieved residents met City of Tshwane officials and the acting MMC for Human Settlements, Andre le Roux to get an update on the relocation and also raising concerns about the rainy season.
Le Roux tried to abandon the meeting when angry residents demanded answers. But calm was restored and the meeting continued as planned at the municipal offices in Mamelodi on Wednesday.
