Violence erupted in Khayelitsha's Mandela Park when about 100 angry backyarders went on the rampage after learning they would be allocated only 15 of the 57 new state-subsidised houses in Housing Project 823.
During Saturday's rampage the protesters set fire to one of the newly built, but as yet unoccupied houses, broke windows in 42 houses, carted off doors, wood, sinks and other building materials, and burned tyres in the street.
The violence follows a meeting between the Mandela Park backyarders and Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela last Wednesday, during which they accused Madikizela of reneging on promises to allocate 23 of the 57 new houses, comprising the last phase of the development, to backyarders.
The 57 homes are the last of a total of 823 built there by the provincial government. Last Wednesday Madikizela announced that the number of houses set aside for backyarders had been reduced to 15 as some of the potential backyard beneficiaries could not be found.
Backyard community leaders claim that the original promise of 23 houses was made by Madikizela at a meeting in August after they had lobbied to see themselves included on the housing list.
The August meeting had been called after a protest in April when former housing MEC Whitey Jacobs was prevented from handing out keys to the first beneficiaries of the Mandela Park project.
Backyarders said the fact that the beneficiaries came from other areas such as Gugulethu and Khayelitsha's Site C, while they squatted in backyards behind houses immediately next door to the housing development, was unacceptable.
One of the leaders of the Mandela Park backyarders, Loyiso Mfuku, said: "The people are tired of promises, which is why they are reacting this way. The worst part is that the MEC lied to them when he promised 23 houses and then changed it to 15, saying 'it's a favour'."
Speaking during the weekend rampage, which saw everyone from pensioners to teenagers join in, Mandela Park backyarder Nokuthula Jacobs said "action speaks louder than words".
"Now Madikizela will definitely know we mean business. And this is not the end, it's just the beginning of things to come," said Jacobs.
"It's total hooliganism and we are going to take action.
"We will identify those who were leading (the protest) and vigorous action will be taken against them," he said, saying the law would take its course.
Police spokeswoman Captain Bernadine Steyn said 42 houses were damaged by a group of about 90 people. She said three youths, all aged 18, were arrested.
They face charges of malicious damage to property. - West Cape News
During Saturday's rampage the protesters set fire to one of the newly built, but as yet unoccupied houses, broke windows in 42 houses, carted off doors, wood, sinks and other building materials, and burned tyres in the street.
The violence follows a meeting between the Mandela Park backyarders and Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela last Wednesday, during which they accused Madikizela of reneging on promises to allocate 23 of the 57 new houses, comprising the last phase of the development, to backyarders.
The 57 homes are the last of a total of 823 built there by the provincial government. Last Wednesday Madikizela announced that the number of houses set aside for backyarders had been reduced to 15 as some of the potential backyard beneficiaries could not be found.
Backyard community leaders claim that the original promise of 23 houses was made by Madikizela at a meeting in August after they had lobbied to see themselves included on the housing list.
The August meeting had been called after a protest in April when former housing MEC Whitey Jacobs was prevented from handing out keys to the first beneficiaries of the Mandela Park project.
Backyarders said the fact that the beneficiaries came from other areas such as Gugulethu and Khayelitsha's Site C, while they squatted in backyards behind houses immediately next door to the housing development, was unacceptable.
One of the leaders of the Mandela Park backyarders, Loyiso Mfuku, said: "The people are tired of promises, which is why they are reacting this way. The worst part is that the MEC lied to them when he promised 23 houses and then changed it to 15, saying 'it's a favour'."
Speaking during the weekend rampage, which saw everyone from pensioners to teenagers join in, Mandela Park backyarder Nokuthula Jacobs said "action speaks louder than words".
"Now Madikizela will definitely know we mean business. And this is not the end, it's just the beginning of things to come," said Jacobs.
Yesterday Madikizela branded the Mandela Park rampage "unacceptable".
Another protester, Mzwandile Mjo, said: "We want (Human Settlements Minister) Tokyo (Sexwale) to come in person to see what we are doing here, and hear why we are doing it because the MEC failed and lied to us. We will destroy these houses and no one will live in them."
"It's total hooliganism and we are going to take action.
"We will identify those who were leading (the protest) and vigorous action will be taken against them," he said, saying the law would take its course.
Police spokeswoman Captain Bernadine Steyn said 42 houses were damaged by a group of about 90 people. She said three youths, all aged 18, were arrested.
They face charges of malicious damage to property. - West Cape News
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