The government of Central Equatoria State says it is working to recover playgrounds and public lands illegally occupied in several residential areas in the capital Juba.
The State Minister of Housing, Land, and Public Utilities, Fred Lako said some of the playgrounds in Juba have been grabbed, leaving the city without enough spaces.
Minister Lako said a committee formed by Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony is working hard to evict illegal occupants.
“The committee is now working, they started here, and they will continue to go to other places. There are some playgrounds has been taken out, the playgrounds are left for the future of our children to play,” he said.
“There are also some event that can be conducted in the playgrounds like this place is 30 by 40 if there is an event and this place has been build, where will they take the event? Are they’re not going to do in the playground?”
On his part, the Deputy Mayor of Juba Thiik Thiik Mayardit warned the public against land grabbing.
Thiik said they will not allow anybody to claim they own the public lands.
The deputy mayor stated that no one owns lands belonging to churches, hospitals, mosques, and other public places.
“The church, hospital, police, the mosque, and the fire Bridget place. No one has the power to take those places, these are public places, and we will not allow anybody to say this is his/her place.”
Last year, the Minister of General Education Awut Deng Acuil found out that some businesses have encroached on Juba One Secondary School and built a shopping center.
Awut warned against the illegal establishment of businesses in school environments.