Residents of Marlboro in Johannesburg — seeking a high court interdict after their homes were expropriated for the Gautrain project — reached a settlement at the city’s high court on Thursday.
The residents were unhappy about the compensation they were to receive for their homes. The settlement reached on Thursday does not resolve the issue of compensation, which will be determined by arbitration.
The settlement stipulates that government will finance the residents’ accommodation until the arbitration process concludes.
The deadline for the process is the end of April. The residents were also unhappy with the time they were given to vacate their homes.
One resident, Imraan Sayanvalla, said: ”It’s not enough time. How can we find a home for two families [living on the property] in two weeks?”
A total of 15 residents have been given expropriation orders, but the settlement only applies to three households.
The attorney for the residents, Zahir Omar, said he will consider similar settlements for the other applicants.
The group of residents launched an urgent application over what they term the unlawful expropriation of their properties.
The Gautrain project is intended to ease highway traffic congestion by providing a rail link between Pretoria, OR Tambo International Airport and Johannesburg. — Sapa