It is disappointing that the Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, has no plans on how to facilitate the withdrawal of the court interdict preventing the roll-out of the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) in the Old Alexandra Township.
This was revealed by the Premier while responding to the DA’s oral questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
In 2005, the Alexandra property owners obtained a court interdict preventing any infrastructure development and the erection of any major structures in the Old Alexandra Township.
According to Premier Makhura, the issue of the court interdict has been tabled on the agenda of the Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Minister of COGTA, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, which is tasked with a responsibility to come up with a holistic response to the problems in Alexandra.
The Premier said the Inter-Ministerial Committee will address all matters pertaining to the development of Alexandra.
This clearly indicates that the Premier has failed to resolve this matter despite the signing of a Statement of Intent with two organizations representing the Old Alexandra property owners.
This also means that all the promises made by both the Premier and the former MEC for Human Settlements and COGTA, Paul Mashatile, to the property owners were in vain.
Three years ago, they promised the property owners that they will provide a solution by acquiring the required funds from either the National Treasury and/or other sources to compensate them in order for them to withdraw the court interdict.
To date we have more unfulfilled promises and the DA eagerly awaits the end of the 100-day timeline as indicated by the Premier in the hope that there will be some progress on this matter.
Alexandra continues to suffer because of the inaction of the Gauteng Provincial Government and the National Treasury.