Latest news with #MlungisiMabaso
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Joburg MMC offers condolences to families amid Diepkloof Hostel investigation
As the families of the two deceased residents of the Diepkloof Hostel prepare to travel to KZN to bury their loved ones, Joburg MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, visited them and the community to send his heartfelt condolences. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers With the investigation into the alleged private ownership of parts of the overcrowded Diepkloof Hostel in Soweto reported to be firmly under way, Joburg MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, visited the families of the people who died during a protest over this matter on Monday. It was reported that one of the trucks loaded with canned fish accelerated and struck one of the residents on Monday, killing him instantly. In another incident, a truck driver trying to avoid the protest drove into the hostel area, where demonstrators began throwing stones at him. While attempting to escape, he hit two people. This happened as residents blockaded the N1 Highway and Chris Hani Road with burning tyres and rocks, causing massive morning peak-hour traffic. As the protest over the lack of housing and poor sanitation issues escalated, the trucks were looted, resulting in a search for the stolen goods later in the day. On Thursday afternoon, during his visit to the grieving families, Mabaso stated that it was the right thing to do for the city to grieve with the affected families and the entire community of Diepkloof Hostel, whose cries over the alleged private ownership had resulted in the unnecessary deaths. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "We are here to offer our sympathies and condolences to the affected families over the tragedy that happened on Monday. We do not wish to have a similar tragedy and find ourselves in a similar situation again, where our people, when they raise their demands, lose their lives. We know as Africans that when families are faced with such circumstances, they need all the support they can get, which has brought us to be here today," he stated. Speaking for the family of Velani Makhaye, Mandla Makhaye indicated that they are still shaken by the death of their son, who had moved to Johannesburg to find better opportunities. "As a family, we are shattered and saddened by the death of our son. His father is still shocked by this tragedy, and we thank the support of the MMC and the entire community as we prepare to travel home to Greytown to lay our son to rest this weekend. With the help we have received, we think we are now in a better place to transport the body of the deceased back home in time for his burial this weekend," Makhaye said. On the investigation, Mabaso stated: "The City of Joburg is currently engaged in that investigation. Our internal investigation has revealed that there was no money received by the city over this illegal transaction, which has affected the renovation project, which was already under way before we were alerted to this transaction."
IOL News
21-05-2025
- IOL News
Urgent investigation into the controversial transfer of Diepkloof Hostel
Two people died during a protest by Diepkloof Hostel dwellers over its ownership and lack of housing. The City of Johannesburg has promised to investigate the unauthorised transfer of ownership. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Part of the overcrowded Diepkloof Hostel in Soweto was transferred to a private owner in June 2023, which sparked the protests that left two people dead this week. On Monday, hostel dwellers took to the streets during a protest in which they demanded houses and expressed their unhappiness with the private ownership of the property. City of Johannesburg Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso said the Diepkloof Hostel was not sold. 'It was transferred without the authorisation from the council. The hostel was subdivided into a portion owned by the city and the other portion is privately owned,' said Mabaso. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He said this week's protest was about the ownership of the hostel. In response to the protest, the City of Johannesburg announced that it would conduct a forensic investigation to determine who authorised the sale of the Diepkloof Hostel without the knowledge of the council and senior officials. According to Mabaso, he has asked Mayor Dada Morero to allow the municipality to no longer discuss the matter internally with officials. 'We need to institute a full forensic investigation to determine who within the municipality authorised this deal,' he said. Mabaso added that municipal regulations require council approval for any transfer of municipal land in the City of Johannesburg. 'I have served as a councillor for nine years, and I have never seen a council resolution approving the transfer of the Diepkloof Hostel land. This suggests the transfer was unauthorised. Some names have been mentioned, but we want a formal investigation to determine exactly who was responsible,' he said. Mabaso continued: 'One of the signatories to this questionable transaction is not even a director, but a manager. I want to know who gave themselves the power to transfer municipal land while residents were still occupying it.' He said his department only became aware of the land transfer when attempts to demolish structures to pave the way for a new development project were made. Mabaso has promised residents that he will return with Johannesburg Water in July this year to introduce a contractor to begin work despite the contested transfer of land into private ownership. In addition, he has instructed officials to approach the courts to lift the interdict currently blocking the development, and stated that he would not engage in discussions with what he referred to as the 'alleged private owner'. City of Johannesburg Economic Development MMC Nomoya Mnisi also had an urgent meeting with community leaders from the hostel on Tuesday to discuss the challenges they face.
Daily Maverick
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Launch of landmark R27-billion Southern Farms development flames housing hopes for Joburg South residents
After more than a decade of grassroots activism and broken promises, residents in Johannesburg South are finally seeing progress in their fight for land and dignified housing. After more than a decade of protest and sustained calls for government intervention in the housing crisis, residents in the south of Johannesburg are finally seeing long-awaited progress. On Friday, 9 May 2025, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, along with MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, and other City of Johannesburg officials, met with community members at the Bushkoppies site in Region G to officially hand over the land where the Southern Farms Mega City Project will be constructed. The ambitious development marks a significant milestone in a community-led fight for equitable access to land and dignified housing. Although the project was officially launched in 2018 under the name 'Southern Farms Biodiversity Development Project', the struggle dates back to 2013, when grassroots movement Abahlali base Freedom Park began mobilising residents to demand solutions to overcrowded and inadequate housing conditions. 'In 2013, Abahlali came together to fight for land and housing. We were sharing small spaces with our families, with three to four generations living in one Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) house,' Peter Monethe, a founding member of Abahlali base Freedom Park, told Daily Maverick. 'So we came together and fought so we could find a space where we could live in dignity.' Long road of resistance and negotiation Over the years, Abahlali base Freedom Park, together with other community organisations in Region G, engaged in tireless advocacy, protests, and negotiations with the City. Their efforts spanned multiple mayoral administrations, often marked by broken promises. 'All through this time we protested, and then the government would engage, but then nothing would happen,' Monethe said. 'There would be houses built, but they'd be allocated to ANC members because of cadre deployment, while the community was excluded.' Frustrated by the delays, Abahlali eventually identified and occupied Bushkoppies — the very site now earmarked for the project. After enduring years of forced removals and legal battles, the City of Johannesburg ultimately purchased the land, paving the way for development to begin. R27-billion housing initiative The Southern Farms Mega City Project is a R27-billion housing initiative designed to address Johannesburg's estimated 1.3 million housing backlog. It will also promote economic development and environmental sustainability in one of the City's most underserved areas. As the community gathered on Friday to mark the handover, spirits were high. Residents sang, danced, and ululated in celebration of what many called a long-overdue breakthrough. Set to unfold over the next 10 years, the project covers 4,000 hectares and will deliver at least 43,000 mixed-housing units for communities in Freedom Park, Eldorado Park, Diepkloof, and surrounding areas — many of whom have waited years for housing allocations. 'This really feels like there is finally change coming,' said Farhana, a lifelong Eldorado Park resident. 'It has felt like we were divided for so long, fighting the government and fighting among ourselves for housing. My mother has been on the list for years, but now at least we can see this is really happening.' According to Mabaso, the development will include: Breaking New Ground (BNG) multi-storey units Affordable finance-linked housing options Serviced stands Mixed-income neighbourhoods Economic zones and community facilities 'Southern Farms is a bold statement that every Joburg South resident deserves dignity, opportunity and progress. We're building more than homes, we're building an inclusive future,' Morero said. Questions remain about transparency Despite the celebrations, concerns persist. Monethe said some members of Abahlali remained uneasy about the lack of clarity surrounding the number of RDP houses to be built and the criteria for allocation. 'We want to know who the beneficiaries will be. There are elderly people living in shacks, people with disabilities, and we want to ensure they are included in the allocations,' he said. During the launch, Mabaso assured the public that beneficiary management would be handled with strict transparency and adherence to the City's verified housing database. 'No one will receive a house unless they're on the verified housing database,' Mabaso said. 'Only pre-approved residents will benefit.' However, when Daily Maverick contacted the City for specific figures regarding RDP house allocations and further details on the selection process, no response had been received by the time of publication. As the bulldozers prepare to move in and formal construction begins, the community remains cautiously optimistic. For the residents of Region G, the Southern Farms Mega City Project symbolises not only a victory after years of struggle, but a test of whether the government can finally deliver on its promises. DM
eNCA
09-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
How Joburg plans to address the housing crisis
JOHANNESBURG - Joburg mayor Dada Morero delivered his first state of the city address this week. Johannesburg's housing crisis has been on the city's agenda for a while. On Friday, the Southern Farms Housing Project was announced. The R28 billion project promises to deliver 43,000 new housing opportunities. Johannesburg Human Settlements MEC Mlungisi Mabaso discussed the programme with eNCA. Today, we celebrated a momentous occasion with the vibrant communities of Eldorado Park, Freedom Park, and Orange Farm in Region G as we officially handed over the Southern Farms Housing Project. — Executive Mayor of the City Of Joburg (@DadaMorero) May 9, 2025
Eyewitness News
05-05-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
Joburg Human Settlements Dept estimates it needs R10bn to fix city's 13 hostels
JOHANNESBURG - The Johannesburg Department of Human Settlements estimates that it needs R10 billion to fix the 13 hostels in the city. MMC for the department, Mlungisi Mabaso, said that the Madala hostel in Alexandra was the oldest one. Aging infrastructure seems to have contributed to the decay of the building, while the sewerage system has led to flooding in the courtyard. Reports show that Madala hostel was meant to undergo repairs during the 2001 to 2008 period as part of the Alex renewal programme. But this did not happen. A resident at the hostel, Nduduzo Ngubane, said the city officials claimed they did not know the extent of the problems at the hostel. "We have now met with the city officials. We took them to view the problems that we have, and they said they will now attend to these because previously they did not know."
