Pensioners take land gripes to Luthuli House

“All I want is a piece of land or a house‚” said Elizabeth Ngwenya‚ 60‚ a resident of Freedom Park in Soweto‚ who joined a handful of protesters outside the ANC headquarters‚ Luthuli House‚ on Monday.

Ngwenya said she had never been formally employed and her financial difficulties had worsened after she lost both of her children.

“If I can get a house or even if it’s land of my own‚ which I will leave for my grandchildren‚ then I will die happy,” said Ngwenya.

She joined about 20‚ mostly elderly people, who identified themselves as the Gauteng Civic Organisation‚ who took to the ANC headquarters to express their land grievances.

The group’s leader‚ Thabang Makhele‚ said the group had on various occasions tried to engage the mayor of the City of Johannesburg‚ Herman Mashaba‚ but with no success.

Makhele said more than 48‚000 stands had been promised for allocation to the people of Freedom Park‚ Lehae‚ Vlakfontein‚ Ellias Motsoaledi and Diepkloof.

“Our people are no longer interested in receiving RDP houses‚ they just want their piece of land so that they can develop their own houses. They want the government to put in water,” Makhele said.

According to the group‚ the stands were expected to be established at Southern Farm, not far from Southgate.

“There was progress at some point. The problem started when the DA-led government took office‚” Makhele said‚ although he also said the delays had been over five years.

The group threatened to sleep outside Luthuli House on Sunday‚ which is the eve of an ANC national executive committee meeting‚ if their demands are not attended to by the end of the week.

“We will mobilise our communities. Over 3‚000 people will be here [Luthuli House], Makhele said.

The group wanted the ANC to take over the land project from the DA-led city, he said.

Among those who came to listen to the crowd’s grievances were Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko‚ ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe and former Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile.

Mashatile said premier David Makhura would meet a small delegation at his office soon to hear their grievances. – DDC

We will mobilise ... Over 3‚000 people will be here