8/12/2019 Press ReleaseTransport and Human Settlement Ministers
to visit the community of Lwandle informal settlement in
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PRESS RELEASE
Attention: News Editors / Transport Writers
Date Issued: 03 June 2014
For Immediate Use
Transport and Human Settlement Ministers to visit the
communityof Lwandle informal settlement in the Western Cape
following
evictions
The Minister of Transport Ms. Dipuo Peters and her Human
Settlement counterpartMinister Lindiwe Sisulu are set to visit the
community of Lwandle in the WesternCape this afternoon.
The community was affected by evictions following a court order
granted in favour ofSanral on 24 January 2014.
The Western Cape High Court granted an order of eviction of
sections of theLwandle informal settlement which were built on a
road reserve belonging to Sanral.
The affected people are occupying land that had been set aside
for the constructionof the N2 road.
The Ministers have expressed concern over the humanitarian
situation caused bythe evictions.
They will this afternoon meet with the leadership of the
community to find solutions tothe current challenges.
We have also noted with concern mistrusts peddled by the
Democratic Alliance andthe City of Cape Town.
To put the record straight, we have attached a chronological
background of thesituation in Lwandle, pointing out the strides
made by Sanral to resolve the situation.
CITY OF CAPE TOWN CANNOT ABDICATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
NOMZANOEVICTIONS
Pretoria, 3 June 2014. The City of Cape Town must shoulder a
primary responsibilityfor the events that lead to the eviction of
people from the Nomzamo informalsettlement following a court
order.
The SA National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) has clear evidence
that the Cityprevented the acquisition of an alternative piece of
land for the relocation ofcommunities living inside the N2 road
reserve. It is obvious that they used the issue
of toll-roads in the Western Cape as an excuse to terminate
discussions on theissue.
8/12/2019 Press ReleaseTransport and Human Settlement Ministers
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Ongoing negotiations between SANRAL, the City of Cape Town and
privatedevelopers were suddenly cut short by the City in an e-mail
message from the Citydated 31 August 2011. The message stated:
Meeting of 8 April 2011 between SANRAL and CCT refers: Mayors
Office:"Notwithstanding any previous correspondence, please accept
herewith that Councilcannot advise, one way or the other, on your
proceeding with the acquisition of ErfST681-17 for the eventual
relocation of occupiers of the N2 road reserve(Onverwacht
Interchange), until such time as the Intergovernmental Dispute
overroad-tolling has been resolved.At the time SANRAL had been
engaging with the City since 2003 to relocate theoccupants living
in the road reserve to alternative accommodation or serviced
sites.
The inaction of the City brought this process to an abrupt end
and SANRAL,eventually had no other option but to apply for a High
Court Order to prevent further
land invasion. This Order was granted on 24 January 2014 and
SANRAL started withthe enforcement of the Order on 19 February.
As an agency of the Department of Transport, SANRAL works
together with all threespheres of government. It cooperates with
all local and metro authorities and cannotcarry out any
developments without their approval.
In the case of the Nomzamo land, SANRAL approached private
developers, ASLA,in 2006 to assist with the relocation of informal
settlers inside the N2 road reserve.The following year ASLA
provided 1 900 structures as part of the relocation processand
SANRAL had to swop the land used for developable SANRAL land. The
cost ofrelocation, at the time, was set at about R1 200 per
structure.
In 2007 SANRAL was able to relocate 1 900 households in the area
and inDecember 2009 the City assisted SANRAL with the relocation of
450 structures toBardale after it accommodated people in the road
reserve to allow the City toconstruct the Onverwacht road.
SANRAL met with city officials on two occasions in March and
April 2011 where itwas suggested that SANRAL negotiate with the
owner to purchase two portions ofthe Farm No.681 Stellenbosch.
The intention was that SANRAL would acquire these properties and
donate them tothe City. In exchange, the City had identified a
property at the Macassar interchangethat was to be developed,
together with a small portion of land owned by SANRAL,for the
relocation of the occupants.
The owner of the land signed a sale agreement for these two
properties and thetransaction was about to be approved by SANRAL
when the City sent its e-mail,dated 31 August 2011, to terminate
its discussions about the issue.
Ends-
