This week has been volatile and tensions high between law enforcement and community members in Rabie Ridge. There has been an ongoing stand-off between the police and land invaders.
Community members went on a rampage on Sunday night and Monday morning demanding land in Rabie Ridge. Burning tyres and rubble was used to block Republic Road earlier this week.
Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades, in an attempt to disperse the protesters. Structures put up by community members were demolished.
In addition, four people have been arrested following the land invasion. The four will be charged for public violence and are expected to appear in court soon.
It is understood that the land is owned by a private company. The unknown company which reportedly claims to own the land has erected a fence around the land and hired private security.
The MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and CoGTA, Lebogang Maile, has condemned the land invasion. Maile has called on the community to disengage from the illegal invasion of the land.
“We are faced with a serious challenge of a housing backlog in the Province, as a result of in-migration and the Province’s status of being a place of hope for job seekers and economic opportunities” said Maile.
Meanwhile, not far away from the scene of the protests in Rabie Ridge, the Temporary Residential Units (TRU) programme announced by the City of Johannesburg 9 months ago is still on hold.
On the 14th of July 2020, the City had a sod turning ceremony and commenced with plans to move thousands of residents of Rabie Ridge to be beneficiaries of TRU’s following the desperate cry for the City to address the issue of overpopulated informal settlements.
The project is on hold with reasons unknown.
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