As a result of the Democratic Alliance (DA) Mogale City’s caucus’ action and pressure together with the community, Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) released a statement yesterday, 8 October, stating that they will not be auctioning off land that has existing structures and people residing on the properties, including churches.
Without the pressure we, alongside the community of Mogale City put on the administration, this would not have been the case. They were, in actual fact, planning on auctioning off land that people have been inhabiting, without their consent.
This decision was passed in council by the ANC/EFF/ATM leadership, but we want to make it clear that the DA champions property rights, with protected title deeds. All of this, combined with our fight for a stronger economy will contribute building generational wealth.
The process followed by the Executive is flawed to the core. We argued this both in the Human Settlements Portfolio meetings and in council. The item should have been referred back to council to accommodate all concerns.
Unfortunately, the item was bulldozed through council under the leadership of the disastrous mayor, Ald Danny Thupane.
Specifically, we believe that the opportunity to buy municipal land should be inclusive and accessible for all Mogale’s residents. The key concerns we have with the current process is as follows:
• Inclusive Land Ownership: Ensuring all Mogale residents have an equal chance to purchase municipal land, and upholding Section 25 and 26 which secures property rights as well as the progressive realisation of decent dignified housing;
• Transparency: Opposing the current process of auctioning municipal land because of inadequate consultation, participation and facilitation; and
• Defending the Constitution: Upholding the rights of citizens and ensuring due process is followed, which in this case, it was not.
We would like to express our gratitude to residents for their continued pressure on the administration of Mogale, with regards to their recent decision regarding the auctioning of municipal land.
We will continue in our oversight role to champion transparency and accountability. The breakers will not get the better of us, we will continue to build, even when they are deadest on destroying our municipality.