RESIDENTS of Holomisa Camp informal settlement in Soweto have ended their week-long protest after City of Johannesburg councillor Dan Bovu addressed them yesterday.

Bovu, who is a member of the mayoral committee (MMC) in charge of housing, bowed to demands from the protesters to meet them.

"He came to see us and we told him our problems. He said that as the committees in the area we can meet with him on February 15 at his office," block committee chairman Phillip Mnomiya said.

Bovu's spokeswoman Palesa More said: "The MMC offered to work with the committee. In the meeting the MMC told the committee that they need to embrace the development or project and take ownership.

"The MMC also explained that the area is going to be developed as a precinct and not in isolation because it is in a great economic node close to the train station and Maponya Mall.

"The committee then agreed to work with Bovu. On February 15 they will have a meeting in the MMC's office and in that meeting Gauteng local government and housing, Joshco (Johannesburg Social Housing Company) and the developer of the area will discuss the maps and way forward for the project in totality."

Mnomiya said Bovu agreed to go to Holomisa Camp and meet the residents to see the conditions they live in.

The protesters had blocked off Tsolo Road near Nancefield railway station over the road being built ahead of RDP houses they say they were promised.

The residents complained that other developments took place ahead of their RDP houses and this had angered them.

There are about 400 shacks in the informal settlement, and in some cases 10 people live in one shack.

The residents use 10toilets and only have access to four taps. - nkosin@sowetan.co.za