Agreement to resolve Lenasia 'glitches'
2012-12-07 11:21
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2012-12-05 09:11
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Johannesburg - Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and
SA Human Rights commissioner advocate Lawrence Mushwana have agreed to resolve
temporary "glitches" around the Lenasia housing issue, they said on
Friday.
In a joint statement, the human settlements department and
SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said Sexwale and Mushwana met on Thursday
evening.
"This comes after the Human Rights Commission statement
earlier today which gave an unfortunate impression that government is not
committed and willing to consult with other parties," the statement read.
"Minister Sexwale, advocate Mushwana and the Gauteng
provincial government are satisfied that the process remains on track and
nothing will derail it. As Minister Sexwale says, this is an 'All In'
process."
Consultation
On Thursday, the SAHRC said the unilateral adoption of a plan
for Lenasia by the human settlement and Gauteng housing departments was done
without consultation.
Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said that despite a meeting of
concerned parties in Pretoria on 28 November, the government's Lenasia
intervention plan (LIP) had been adopted without anyone's consent.
The LIP was formulated and adopted at a meeting without
involving other stakeholders serving on the Special Lenasia Intervention Team
(SPLIT), Mangena said at the time.
SPLIT consists of officials of the human settlements
department, the Gauteng housing department, the SAHRC, the Legal Resources
Centre and Lenasia residents.
About three weeks ago, the Gauteng housing department
demolished 50 houses in the area. The department said it was acting within the
law because the houses were illegally built on government land.
Further demolitions were halted following a ruling by the South
Gauteng High Court.
Stakeholders
The meeting on Tuesday "erroneously and
unintentionally" left out stakeholders and would be corrected going forward,
according to the joint statement.
"An official who was instructed to invite all parties
neglected to do so and the minister instructed the director general to sharply
call the official to order.
"All parties have to report back to the court on
progress as this is still a court process. Both parties stated without
equivocation that protection of human rights is not to be equated with criminal
wrongs."
They agreed that no agreement would be allowed that was
unlawful and criminal syndicates were "not to expect to ride on the back
of lawful agreements".
- SAPA
