Evicted Alexandra residents urged to refrain from occupying government-owned container flats
The vacant flats were constructed in 2020 to accommodate people living in high-density communities in response to Covid-19 regulations.
Alexandra residents sort through their belongings after being evicted from container homes they had illegally occupied. Picture: Veronica Makhoali/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Joburg has urged Alexandra residents to refrain from occupying the government-owned container flats in the community as they are still under construction.
The vacant flats were constructed in 2020 to accommodate people living in high-density communities in response to Covid-19 regulations.
However, the flats were never officially allocated, resulting in hundreds of families occupying them illegally earlier this year.
Recently, the City of Joburg evicted these families, leaving some of them homeless.
Right outside the Alexandra container flats, evicted residents have built makeshift homes using cardboard, plastic material and mattresses.
One resident, who asked to be kept anonymous, stated that they feel neglected by the City of Joburg as they have been left to live on the streets.
"We are not saying we want something fancy, we just want to have a home. Even if it's just shacks," said the resident.
Joburg Human settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso said container flats are not yet ready for occupation.
"If you immediately push people to illegally occupy structures that are not complete, it means you are placing their lives at risk," said Mabaso.
The homeless residents protested on Friday demanding dignified housing.