Threat of ‘war’ as housing spat looms

A battle is brewing between residents of two neighbouring informal settlements in Sebokeng in the Vaal.

The rival groups are residents of Boiketlong informal settlement and Lethabong informal settlement.

The bone of contention is a multimillion-rand housing project.

Residents of Boiketlong have accused Lethabong residents of planning to jump the queue in order to benefit from the mega-housing project.

About 14 000 mixed housing units are expected to be completed in the area.

Dozens of houses, which are part of the project’s phase one, have been completed.

The completion sparked tensions, led by Boiketlong residents, who claim they have been residing in the area for over two decades.

They allege that Lethabong residents have illegally occupied land situated a stone’s throw from the project.

Boiketlong is situated less than a kilometre from the project.

Residents of Lethabong occupied a vacant area in 2017 before the project started.

Boiketlong community leader Maria Motswatswa claims their neighbours want to be the first beneficiaries of the project.

“They arrived in 2017, before the project could start. They erected shacks on a piece of land that is close to the housing project. Those RDP houses are meant for us, residents of Boiketlong,” said Motswatswa.

Motswatswa has been living in Boiketlong for 12 years and expects to benefit from the project.

“As Boiketlong residents, we must be prioritised. Lethabong and other Vaal residents will receive the remaining houses after we have benefitted.

“We allowed them to invade a piece of land near the project, hoping they will behave. If they dare invade those new houses before us, there will be war. We are willing to die for this project,” Motswatswa said.

Motswatswa called on government to intervene.

“Government must allocate them a piece of land somewhere, not near our area. If the government does not move them away from here, we will see what to do with them,” Motswatswa said.

Lethabong community leader, Jonas Masike, said they will not budge.

Masike said they occupied a piece of land in March 2017 and erected shacks two months later.

“As people who were homeless, we identified this piece of land and occupied it. Government is aware of our presence. The majority of us here have applied for RDP houses, which make us beneficiaries of government houses.”

The Gauteng human settlements department is yet to comment on the matter. –