BACKYARD residents in Cape Town have invaded newly built houses in Philippi, claiming that an ANC ward councillor told them they would miss out on getting houses if they were not on the list of beneficiaries.

About 31 backyarders took over the half-built houses in the Phase 5 Housing Project on Freedom Day.

Backyarder Nolitha Mgoqi told Sowetan that ANC ward councillor Thobile Gqola had not given them a direct instruction to invade the houses, but had informed them at a meeting in the local hall on April 20 that if they "missed out" on these houses, they would not get a chance at more houses later on.

Residents told Sowetan they had recently been "chased out" of their rented backyard accommodation by landlords who wanted to extend their houses.

Others claimed that they were the rightful beneficiaries of the new housing project.

Nowam Ndaku, 64, said she would stay in the house she had occupied.

"I am not going anywhere, I will die here. How am I going to pay rent? The landlord needs rent and I'm unemployed, only surviving on an old age grant," Ndaku said.

Sanco member Bonisile Ntlola accused Gqola of "marginalising" the organisation.

"Our councillor does not consult community structures when there is any new development in the area," he said.

Efforts to get comment from Gqola were fruitless since his phone was switched off.