Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has strongly condemned the invasion of land at Lourierpark in Bloemfontein. The metro did not detail its plans for providing housing for the informal settlers.

According to accounts, unhoused people started erecting shacks in Lourierpark Friday (1/3), sparking an outcry from both residents and local authorities. Mangaung Metro spokesperson Qondile Khedama said all relevant departments of the city are on the ground to make assessment and intervene.

PHOTO: OFM/Morgan Piek.

“A case has been opened at the Free State Department of Human Settlements. This will assist both our law enforcement team and SAPS to execute their responsibilities on site,” Khedama added. The department is responsible for delivering housing in the province and has a constitutional mandate to ensure everyone has access to adequate accommodation.

“While the municipality does have a constitutional mandate to ensure – where required and with available resources – that all citizens can enjoy their basic rights and gain authorised access to land and housing, it also has duty to intervene where land invasions occur,” Khedama said. The metro has not confirmed where the informal settlers were removed to and if they were provided with safe housing and access to water.

PHOTO: OFM/Morgan Piek.

Last week, residents of N8 Park at Botshabelo demanded that ward councillors and the South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco) stop delaying the process of them receiving their residential sites. Thousands of people in the informal settlement still do not have adequate housing, water, or sanitation, despite millions being allocated by the Department of Human Settlements to ensure urban development in Botshabelo.

Mangaung mayor Gregory Nthatisi had previously warned people to stop occupying land illegally.

“We feel for the people, but we are going to remove them. Certainly, we are ensuring that before we can remove them, we must get them in proper places,” Nthatisi said. The mayor did not provide details on where displaced people would be housed and how long it would take to provide housing for all informal settlers.

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