An interim court order has been obtained to prevent the illegal construction of housing on council-owned property in Soweto, the City of Joburg Property Company (JPC) said on Thursday.
The illegal housing construction was allegedly started by a group called the Power Park Extension Two Residents Committee, and the interim court order was obtained on Tuesday, said the company.
A case of fraud has also been opened against a Moses Nkosi, who is allegedly responsible for the fraudulent sale of the property.
”Officials visited the site and advised those persons involved that the construction is illegal and asked them to stop, and persons who were fraudulently sold properties were advised that the sales had no legal standing,” the company said.
Some people had already started building on the site and orders for them to stop were issued by Johannesburg’s building-control section.
The company said that in some cases people refused to accept the notices and threatened the building-control officers. A contractor appointed to fence and secure the site, pending further investigations, was stopped by the illegal contractor.
”Investigations continue and the group calling themselves the Power Park Extension Two Residents Committee has been asked to provide the necessary documents to prove ownership of the land,” JPC said. – Sapa