‘Free housing scheme’ illegal
TSHWANE METRO: BLOCKS INTENDED TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT ON CENTURION SITE
‘This is my land and I choose to give it to them,’ says defiant owner.
The Tshwane metro has said that signs placed outside a Saxby Avenue property in Centurion advertising a “free-forall” housing scheme are illegal. The owner of the property on Wednesday erected several signs at the property, proclaiming it to be a “free housing scheme” by the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters.
Owner Mohamed Karin said he decided to put up the signs after the Tshwane metro issued an order to stop the construction of several townhouse units.
“We always hear of people who want land and who occupy land. This is my land and I choose to give it to them.”
He said about eight people were already staying on the property. “There are already sewage facilities on the property,” he said.
“Normally people would have to occupy land illegally, but here I am allowing them to do so.”
However, the metro has said the so-called “housing scheme” had not been approved by city council.
“This is in fact false advertising by [the owner of the property]” said local ward councillor Cindy Billson. “No permission was obtained for such a housing scheme and the metro is currently involved in legal action against [the owner] pertaining to illegal building on the site.”
In February, the metro issued a notice to Karin to cease construction on the property, after neighbours complained.
“I had the property for almost 10 years and it was vacant,” said Karin. “During that time, many people in the area complained that nothing was being done. Now that we are developing it they are complaining.”
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo did not say why the metro deemed the construction to be illegal. – Caxton News Service