Comment sought on housing by-laws

Written by Rudo Mungoshi

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Complaints from neighbours have prompted the City to draw up by-laws regarding communal housing, particularly regarding student digs. A set of draft by-laws is being prepared to crack down on overcrowding in accommodation intended for students and low-income workers, and the City wants public input into its plans. A public meeting will be held on Thursday, 28 May from 6pm to 8.30pm at the council chambers in the University of Johannesburg's new administration building on its Kingsway Campus, to discuss the future of communal housing. According to the assistant director of development planning and facilitation, Linah Dube, the draft policy seeks to address slumlording and reduce the number of illegal establishments in the city. The draft policy is being formulated in response to complaints made by residents staying close to the universities of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand regarding the behaviour of students living in near-by communes. The complaints relate to: The high incidence of anti-social behaviour, including noise, particularly late at night; Littering; Traffic congestion and illegal parking, especially in front of drive ways and on pavements; and Overcrowded houses. "The residents are not only complaining about the students. They are also concerned about slumlording and the general decay of the residential area. The slumlords often take advantage of less fortunate students and lowly paid workers and crowd them in inhumane conditions for profit," she said. There are about 63 000 students registered at the two niversities, which only provide accommodation for 15 000 students. The rest of those students whose homes are not in Johannesburg, have to find living space in nearby neighbourhoods. Communal housing provides an income for property owners and renters, while meeting the need for suitable accommodation of students and the working class. Comments on the draft by-laws should be submitted before Monday, 22 June to Linah Dube, at the Metro Centre, 10th floor, A Block; or by email to LinahD@joburg.org.za or by phone on 011 407 6906/21. Copies of the draft by-laws will be available online from 3 June, and at the following Customer Care Centres from 4 June: Region A, Midrand: 300 15th Road, Randiespark, Midrand. Tel: 011 203 3605 / 3300; Region B, Northcliff: ACA Krans Building, 35 Symons Road, Auckland Park. Tel: 011 718 9612 / 3 or 011 718 9650; Region C, Roodepoort: Ground Floor, Roodepoort Civic Centre, 100 Christiaan de Wet Road, Florida Park. Tel: 011 761 0145 / 0146 / 0140 / 0440; Region D, Soweto: Sophie Masite Civic Centre, Koma Road, Jabulani. Tel: 011 986 0178 / 0296 / 0077; Diepkloof: Diepkloof People's Centre, 729 Zone 1, Talani Street, Diepkloof. Tel: 011 985 1003; Region E, Alexandra: 8th Avenue, Alexandra. Tel: 011 531 5591; Sandton: A Block, Civic Centre, Sandton. Tel: 011 881 6241; Region F, inner city: ground floor, CJ Cronje Building, 80 Loveday Street, Braamfontein. Tel: 011 376 8600; Braamfontein: Amukelani Masia Stakeholder Relationship Management, ground floor, A Block Metro Centre Building, 158 Loveday Street, Braamfontein. Tel: 011 407 6700 or 073 2531538; Region G, Ennerdale: corner Katz and Smith streets, Ennerdale Extension 9. Tel: 011 213 0056; or Joburg South: Eureka House, 92 Marlborough Road, Springfield. Tel: 011 681 8000.