Tensions simmer at transit camp in Marlboro
ALEXANDRA – Illegal structures at transit camp, broken promises on housing fuel fires.
Residents of KwaVezunyawo transit camp in Marlboro are suspicious of each other after the recent destruction of illegal rooms by the JMPD.
This as more are schedule to be razed down at the camp officially called Alexandra Transit Village. The camp was constructed years ago as temporary shelter for those on the housing waiting list.
After years of broken promises for the RDP houses, the occupants have seemingly turned the place into ‘permanent’ homes and are attaching additional rooms claiming they are for their grown-up children. Others are said to rent out the rooms and extensions built without title deeds and approved plans.
A source said the JMPD was informed about the problem by the councillor and came and destroyed some of the illegal structures. “But, now there is a witch hunt among the residents with mostly the losers accusing everyone they can think of for alerting the councilor,” the source said adding that the place has seemingly been abandoned by relevant authorities.
“Security is compromised after guards who manned the two gates were chased away by some unruly residents in 2017 and several entry points were created after the fence was destroyed. “Two alleged criminals were killed at the place rending it very unsafe.”
The neglect of the place by the authorities is also said to force families to hire private work to fix toilets, leaking taps, and repair infrastructural damages.
“The structures which were razed down were seemingly on top of drains and servitude, and were either a strain to the ablution mains or were not connected to any services. They posed a health hazard.”
The claims were confirmed by Aaron Malepe, the longstanding chairperson of the Village Activity Committee. “Authorities have abandoned the place, leaving us to fight among each other for limited houses which are now also occupied by many migrants who don’t qualify for them.
“The festering squabbles over occupation, rentals and illegal tenancy which should have been resolved a long time ago are escalating and will likely end in full-scale confrontations without official intervention.”
Malepe said some people also sold empty spaces they don’t own for illegal structures to be built. “Others converted public toilets into rooms or hijack or fight over rooms and shacks left by those who should have destroyed them when they departed.”
He attributed the destruction to law-abiding residents who complained to the councillor and are fearful of the likely consequences from the palpable tensions.
Malepe urged for the authorised destruction to be coupled with houses being built and allocated to intended beneficiaries. This said as he complained of the years of failed promises for land for housing including at the nearby Frankenwald Estate which is owned by Wits University.
Malepe further urged those who blame him and the committee for the problems including the lack of street lights to direct their issues to the rightful authorities. “We also struggle like them to get improvements done here.”
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