The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on Sunday gave Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo 14 days to respond to a memorandum of demands that include the upgrading of hostels in Johannesburg.
The demands include the upgrading of electricity power in hostels before the start of winter, the formation of an anti-corruption unit and the improvement of cleaning operations throughout the city.
Other demands include the suspension of ANC councillors and officials accused of assaulting community leaders in region six in Johannesburg, the establishment of clear programme for those affected by HIV/Aids and the reviewing of city by-laws with regard to the treatment of hawkers.
IFP chairperson for the Johannesburg region, Dlangezwa Mvelase, said the list of demands was issued after countless unsuccessful attempts to discuss them with Masondo. He said these were issues that affect everyone.
”In our demands, we are requesting the mayor to clarify what happened to the R4-million that was allocated to the emergency repairs in hostel. To date, no hostel has benefited from that money and we want to know why,” said Mvelase.
He said the party was also concerned about the slow development in hostels not only in infrastructure but also in the development of hostel residents.
”Often when development programmes are considered and participates selected, hostel residents are seldom considered and we want this to reviewed,” said Mvelase.
Among other demands were what the party described as the unconstitutional eviction of people from flats and bond houses and the lack of a ”clear programme … on HIV/Aids affected persons”.
”More and more people are being evicted without been given alternative accommodation. And this is against the Constitution. And in cases where the government promises to provide houses, one realises that there is an insufficient number available for those evicted,” said Mvelase.
He said should Masondo fail to respond to the memorandum in 14 days, IFP members will stage large sitt-ins and demonstrations. – Sapa