Shack dwellers at the Marry Me Informal Settlement in Soshanguve, where six patrollers were fatally shot in March, are set to benefit from a new housing development, expected to commence before December. 

Ward 89 councillor, Tshepo Malefane, said a community meeting was held on Saturday to update residents on the development plans for the area. 

He said during the meeting, it was explained that the City of Tshwane has already put aside a budget for the development of the area in the current financial year.

“This means that before December, we would have started with auditing of the area,” he said.

According to Malefane, the development will start with the installation of bulk infrastructure, including water and sewerage pipes, to mark the beginning of the actual work on the project.

He said the new development will prioritise housing for South African citizens.

“No one will remain there because remember we are cleaning Marry Me, and we don’t want anyone there,” he said.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing and Human Settlements, Aaron Maluleka, advised residents against constructing new shacks outside the existing informal settlement boundaries, warning that it would hinder the formalisation process. 

“The new shacks have been built outside the boundaries of portion 15 of the farm Wentzelrust 223 JR, owned by the city,” he said.

He said residents were informed that 3,208 households were identified and registered during the shack-marking process.

Maluleka said: “Those who qualify for housing will be relocated to a new area, Kopanong, where walk-up houses will be constructed. Other residents will be allocated stands in the area.”

He said 3,000 stands will be allocated and registered to qualifying residents through the decanting and formalisation process.

“Residents were encouraged to resolve ownership of the stands before the project began, and for those who didn’t qualify, to approach the city’s housing department to apply for housing,” he said.

He clarified that people who were previously registered and allocated numbers are not guaranteed stands or RDP houses, but they are encouraged to liaise with Malefane for assistance.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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