While it is considered an illegal land occupation, the settlement has been acknowledged as one of 186 new informal settlements by the Department of Human Settlements.
Despite this recognition, it has not yet been formally adopted by the City Council. The settlement’s unproclaimed status arises from the illegal occupation of land, preventing the township establishment process, which includes developing essential infrastructure and services.
To legalize Phumla Mqashi, it must undergo phases 1 and 2 of the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP). This process includes categorization, development of upgrading plans, and other planning activities, which may require relocating some households and addressing areas that hinder access, such as wetlands.
Panwell Dhlamini, Deputy Director for communication at the MMC for Human Settlements, explained that the city is working on the upgrade of 67 informal settlements in the current financial year, with planned infrastructure improvements such as access roads, electrification, and provision of water and sanitation.
The MMC aims to complete these projects on time and within the allocated budget.
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