The City of Tshwane is facing a crisis as the number of informal settlements rapidly increases. Unscrupulous individuals are exploiting vulnerable families by selling land and engaging in illegal activities.
The City of Tshwane has expressed concern over the rapid growth of informal settlements around the metro. MMC for Housing and Human Settlements, Aaron Maluleka, stated that unscrupulous individuals are selling land to desperate families, profiting from the situation through illegal electricity and water connections. Maluleka highlighted the issue of 'shack farming', where land barons exploit the need for housing, charging for electricity and protection fees.
The demand for land intensifies as more people migrate to urban areas seeking economic opportunities, creating a thriving market for land barons. Maluleka emphasized the dangers of these informal settlements, where residents often build houses on flood lines or wetlands, relying on illegal connections for utilities. A pilot project has been launched to address the sanitation issue by providing climate-resistant sanitation units
Informal Settlements Land Invasion Housing Crisis Urban Development Illegal Connections
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