Some disgruntled Jika Joe shack dwellers in Pietermaritzburg slammed the handover of 404 residential units on Monday, accusing government of misleading them into thinking they too would have homes.
Informal settlement resident Sindisiwe Shezi said they should have been allowed to occupy the housing despite not being able to afford the nominal rental of R500.
Amid protest action on Monday morning, there have been threats “to storm” the newly occupied flats.
“We fully understand that these flats are for those who are able to pay rent. But where does this leave us?” said Ngcobo.
He said they were upset about the selection of beneficiaries – also residents at Jika Joe.
Human settlements MEC Sipho Nkosi said the initiative would be a big help to community members, who will now live closer to work.
“We will soon be demolishing a portion of the existing Jika Joe settlement to make way for phase 2 of the project,” said Nkosi.
“Our people are no longer going to perish as a result of fires and flooding. We hope that most people will have some shelter before the rainy season begins.”
The project, less than 3km from the CBD, is expected to breathe new life into the capital city.
It has often been plagued by protests by informal settlement dwellers, who have blocked roads and burnt tyres.
Msunduzi mayor Mzi Thebolla said the move would go a long way towards addressing apartheid spatial planning.
He said it was worrying that some people would resort to destroying the infrastructure to have their voices heard.
“Tomorrow they will be the same people who would lament the poor service delivery.”
He will be working with police to ensure those who have occupied the flats are safe.
Protest action mars handover of new housing units
There are threats of storming newly occupied flats
Image: Mfundo Mkhize
Some disgruntled Jika Joe shack dwellers in Pietermaritzburg slammed the handover of 404 residential units on Monday, accusing government of misleading them into thinking they too would have homes.
Informal settlement resident Sindisiwe Shezi said they should have been allowed to occupy the housing despite not being able to afford the nominal rental of R500.
Amid protest action on Monday morning, there have been threats “to storm” the newly occupied flats.
“We fully understand that these flats are for those who are able to pay rent. But where does this leave us?” said Ngcobo.
He said they were upset about the selection of beneficiaries – also residents at Jika Joe.
Human settlements MEC Sipho Nkosi said the initiative would be a big help to community members, who will now live closer to work.
“We will soon be demolishing a portion of the existing Jika Joe settlement to make way for phase 2 of the project,” said Nkosi.
“Our people are no longer going to perish as a result of fires and flooding. We hope that most people will have some shelter before the rainy season begins.”
The project, less than 3km from the CBD, is expected to breathe new life into the capital city.
It has often been plagued by protests by informal settlement dwellers, who have blocked roads and burnt tyres.
Msunduzi mayor Mzi Thebolla said the move would go a long way towards addressing apartheid spatial planning.
He said it was worrying that some people would resort to destroying the infrastructure to have their voices heard.
“Tomorrow they will be the same people who would lament the poor service delivery.”
He will be working with police to ensure those who have occupied the flats are safe.
“Until there is 100% occupancy here we will ensure that everyone is kept safe. During the two-year construction of the flats we had ensured that the project was not marred by criminality,” said Thebolla.
He said while the housing project was a step in the right direction, the municipality faced a mammoth task coping with rapid urbanisation.
Pensioner Sylvia Ndlela, who has moved into the housing unit with her four grandchildren and daughter, said her dignity had been restored.
“I am very happy for this. This will help me because I will now be safe from flooding,” said Ndlela.
- TimesLIVE
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