Land deal paves the way to development in Alex

27 June 2016

 

The protracted land dispute between the City of Johannesburg and more than 2 500 Alexandra property owners that had for several years delayed infrastructure development in the sprawling township has finally been resolved.

 

On Saturday June 25, Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau, Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Paul Mashatile, Land Claims Commissioner Lebyane Maphutha and property owners represented by the Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association (ALPOA), Alexandra Property Owners Rights (APOR) and the South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO) signed a “statement of intent" at the Sandton Library to end the impasse.

 

The signing was also witnessed by City of Johannesburg Council Speaker Cllr Connie Bopape, MMC for Housing Cllr Dan Bovu, MMC for Development Planning Cllr Roslyn Greeff, Region E councillors and Regional Director Liziwe Ntshinga-Makoro.

 

The agreement, described by Mayor Tau and MEC Mashatile as a milestone and historic, will see each claimant being given an option equivalent to the monetary compensation that might be payable in respect of the property concerned.

 

The monetary compensation will be based on a proper land valuation process in accordance with applicable government policy. The options that each claimant can select from are:

• Provision of title deeds for stands in Alexandra;

• Provision of alternative stands;

• Participation in a planned redevelopment of Alexandra; and

• Financial compensation.

 

Based on an assumption that all 2 538 property owners will apply for monetary compensation, it is estimated that it will cost the government between R1.8-billion and R2.billion to implement the agreement.

 

In his address, Mayor Tau said it was agreed during negotiations that it was important to resolve the land issue for the sake of development in Alexandra.

 

“Today is an important milestone for Alexandra. It is historic because it defines property owners as developers and partners with the City of Johannesburg. In the next 24 years we expect about three million people to move into Johannesburg and this agreement will allow us to have property owners who will be partners for development. He said a summit would be convened after the local government elections to deal with all outstanding matters, including the Master Plan.

 

“But in the meantime development will continue in Alex. We [and the property owners] are no longer adversaries but partners," Mayor Tau said.

 

MEC Mashatile echoed Mayor Tau’s sentiment that the agreement was a milestone. He said it was true that it was impossible to upgrade and develop Alexandra without acquiring additional land.

 

“We endorse the agreement to ensure that Alexandra becomes a mega city. This is the beginning of a new journey for the people of Alex and I’ve no doubt that Alex will become a mega city," he said.

 

ALPOA representative MJ Segopa said he hoped the parties would not renege on the agreement. Segopa said his organisation was disappointed when the agreement could not be reached in December 2015 but was happy that the impasse had finally been resolved.

 

Thabo Seatane of SANCO said he was “heartened“ by the commitments made by Mayor Tau and MEC Mashatile and was excited to hear about the planned development of Alexandra.