Gauteng’s crime prevention wardens take on unauthorised informal settlements

Gauteng’s efforts to tackle the growing problem of unauthorised informal settlements have taken a significant step forward by deploying newly trained crime prevention wardens in the province. On Sunday, the provincial government held a pass-out parade to introduce 2,000 wardens who completed their training, and their main focus will be the unlawful invasion of private and government-owned land, as per Eyewitness News. Over the past year, Gauteng municipalities, particularly in Tshwane and Johannesburg, have struggled with many illegal land grabs. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic further aggravated the situation, leading to a drastic increase in the establishment of unauthorised informal settlements, some of which crept upon infrastructure owned by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and riverbanks.

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Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi expressed his confidence in the crime prevention wardens, emphasising that their training would ensure that no further unauthorised settlements are allowed. He stated, “This force will be trained so that no one will erect an informal settlement wherever they like. We will stop that, so that there is no informal settlement that is not authorised in our province.” However, Lesufi also expressed concern about the escalating establishment of these settlements, emphasising the need for decisive action to address the issue.

The deployment of the crime prevention wardens marks a significant step towards curbing the growth of unauthorised informal settlements in Gauteng. The province is determined to protect private and government-owned land from unlawful invasion and ensure that all settlements are authorised and meet the necessary regulations. By taking a proactive approach, Gauteng aims to address this pressing challenge and provide appropriate housing solutions for its residents.

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Picture: Twitter / GP_CommSafety

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