Give us the land, we will show you the money
18 March 2016
Residents of Ennerdale in the City of Johannesburg’s Region G have called for a moratorium on land in the area to be lifted to give them the opportunity to purchase it for economic development purposes.
Ward 121 committee member Sello Pule said Ennerdale residents were eager to play a key role in the development of the local economy but the moratorium placed on the land by the City stood in the way.
Pule was speaking at the Meaningful Citizen Participation Empowerment Dialogue at the Ennerdale Civic Centre last night (Thursday March 17). The dialogue, facilitated by Regional Director Mickey Padiachee, was attended by representatives of Mini Parliament, Ennerdale Grassy FM, Ennerdale Economic Forum, Real Men’s Forum, Ministers’ Forum and the regional Faith-Based Organisation.
The main aim of the dialogue was to give stakeholders the opportunity to come up with ideas and suggestions on how their areas could be economically developed. Similar engagement sessions were held in Eldorado Park, Lenasia South and Lenasia CBD earlier in the week.
On Tuesday night at the Lenasia South Civic Centre, participants agreed that a database of all stakeholders – including non-governmental organisations, churches and businesses – be updated. The participants also decided to form a task team to spearhead the formation of the Region G Economic Forum.
Last night Pule said many Ennerdale residents were keen to develop the area.
“You see a lot factories mushrooming in nearby Lenasia but you see no development in Ennerdale. Ennerdale is like an oasis. We have professionals and graduates who are idling at home because there are no job opportunities. Ennerdale has a potential to become a CBD but this will not happen unless the moratorium on land is lifted. Many residents are faced with eviction because they can’t afford to pay their rates and taxes. Students cannot afford to go to university because their parents can’t afford the high fees. People need the land to contribute to the economic growth of this area,” Pule said.
Padiachee said all input and suggestions collected at the dialogue sessions would be consolidated and taken to a broader stakeholder forum in May to be further discussed. Resident Marvin George said it was high time that the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system was introduced in the area to make life easier for commuters who had “to bear the brunt of reckless taxi drivers”.
Bishop Arthur Africa of the Ministers’ Forum said he was concerned about rumours that a shopping mall to be funded by a Chinese conglomerate was to be built in the area.