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What’s Really Happening in Wilro Park’s Valley? JMPD Breaks Silence

Published

2 months ago

July 14, 2025

Chiraag

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Smoke, stolen bins, and squatters: Residents raise the alarm while JMPD outlines next steps

For weeks, residents in Wilro Park, Roodepoort, have been sounding the alarm about a growing problem just off Okavango Drive, the valley. What was once a green, quiet slope has slowly turned into what many locals now describe as a makeshift settlement.

While complaints have stacked up, from burning rubbish creating heavy smoke and unpleasant odours to loud noise, suspected stolen municipal bins, and illegal shacks, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) says it is not as simple as swooping in and clearing people out.

“It’s not an overnight process,” says JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla.

According to Fihla, officers did respond to the public’s complaints and visited the site. When they arrived, the valley appeared empty, with no people in sight. However, that does not mean nothing is going on.

There were clear signs of occupation and recent activity. Now, JMPD is preparing for a more thorough approach.

“This requires a more comprehensive approach,” Fihla explains. That means bringing in more than just metro cops. The next phase will involve coordination with other departments such as Environmental Health, Social Development, and Pikitup, the city’s waste management company.

Their job will be to assess everything from illegal structures to health hazards and even possible criminal activity, including the alleged theft of municipal bins, which some residents believe have been repurposed as part of the dwellings.

Legal hurdles and the PIE Act

Fihla made it clear that JMPD cannot simply evict people without following due legal process. The issue falls under South Africa’s Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE Act) of 1998, which exists to protect people from being removed without proper legal channels.

Even if the land is not supposed to be lived on, and even if there are genuine bylaw violations, the law still requires formal procedures, notice periods, and often court orders before any eviction can legally take place.

Residents frustrated, but the process is underway

Locals say the issue has been escalating for some time, with fears around safety, health, and property value starting to creep in. Community Facebook groups have lit up with photos of smoke rising from the valley and discussions around the alleged theft of bins. Some residents feel their complaints are going unheard.

However, JMPD’s response suggests otherwise. The wheels are turning, albeit slowly.

With follow-up operations now on the cards, residents may soon see more action, but it will not happen overnight. Fihla stressed that public safety, legal compliance, and coordination with relevant departments are all essential before anything major can be done.