ActionSA Concerned About Displaced Foreigners At Brixton Recreation Centre, Calls for Implementation of the Existing Laws
Press Statement by Steven Nkonyeni
ActionSA Constituency Chairperson: Region F1
ActionSA is deeply concerned about the state of the Brixton Recreation Centre which has now become a shelter for foreigners who were displaced after the tragic burning down of a building in Marshalltown in August 2023. We implore the City of Johannesburg (CoJ to implement existing legislation and its own by-laws.
Recreation centres and community halls form part of the community development portfolio and are key in generating much needed revenue for the City. Revenue collection is crucial to ensuring that the city is able to provide service delivery through the renting out of community halls. Further to this, the role of recreation centres is pivotal in the rolling out of youth and community development programs which seek to address social ills and contribute largely to society as a whole.
Whilst ActionSA acknowledges the need for affordable accommodation and social housing, as well as shelter for the homeless and displaced, and would work with the Department of Human Settlements to provide such services, the City cannot be seen to be promoting lawlessness against the country’s immigration legislation and noncompliance with its own by-laws by providing free accommodation to undocumented foreign nationals who have no respect for South African laws.
ActionSA is fully committed to the Inner City Rejuvenation Program which was successfully implemented by President Herman Mashaba as CoJ Mayor.
It is important that hijacked and abandoned buildings are reclaimed, refurbished and gentrified for affordable housing, students’ accommodation and economic development.
The Brixton Recreation Centre is a prime example of how residents of a community can be robbed of a community hall and social programs that would benefit them. ActionSA will not allow that to happen and will always stand with South African communities.
ActionSA will continue to conduct oversight and urge the city to do right by its residents and ensure that recreation centres are transferred back into the hands of communities.
We cannot allow buildings that belong to the city to be hijacked for illicit activities and free-lodging for individuals who do not respect the rule of law.
ActionSA Concerned About Displaced Foreigners At Brixton Recreation Centre, Calls for Implementation of the Existing Laws
ActionSA is deeply concerned about the state of the Brixton Recreation Centre which has now become a shelter for foreigners who were displaced after the tragic burning down of a building in Marshalltown in August 2023. We implore the City of Johannesburg (CoJ to implement existing legislation and its own by-laws.
Recreation centres and community halls form part of the community development portfolio and are key in generating much needed revenue for the City. Revenue collection is crucial to ensuring that the city is able to provide service delivery through the renting out of community halls. Further to this, the role of recreation centres is pivotal in the rolling out of youth and community development programs which seek to address social ills and contribute largely to society as a whole.
Whilst ActionSA acknowledges the need for affordable accommodation and social housing, as well as shelter for the homeless and displaced, and would work with the Department of Human Settlements to provide such services, the City cannot be seen to be promoting lawlessness against the country’s immigration legislation and noncompliance with its own by-laws by providing free accommodation to undocumented foreign nationals who have no respect for South African laws.
ActionSA is fully committed to the Inner City Rejuvenation Program which was successfully implemented by President Herman Mashaba as CoJ Mayor.
It is important that hijacked and abandoned buildings are reclaimed, refurbished and gentrified for affordable housing, students’ accommodation and economic development.
The Brixton Recreation Centre is a prime example of how residents of a community can be robbed of a community hall and social programs that would benefit them. ActionSA will not allow that to happen and will always stand with South African communities.
ActionSA will continue to conduct oversight and urge the city to do right by its residents and ensure that recreation centres are transferred back into the hands of communities.
We cannot allow buildings that belong to the city to be hijacked for illicit activities and free-lodging for individuals who do not respect the rule of law.