About 50 Makhaza residents in Khayelitsha are continuing to use unenclosed toilets as they await a ruling by the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
An agreement between the Ward 95 Development Forum and city officials to find a way to enclose the toilets has not led to a solution.
City officials had suggested using concrete enclosures no longer needed elsewhere, but this measure was ruled out when it was found it would be impossible to move these.
Also, residents have questioned a statement made last month by city officials that the toilets were not enclosed because it had been agreed, when they were installed, that the householders would see to this.
In February, the HRC, asked by the ANC Youth League to investigate, tried to mediate, but the meeting ended prematurely when the youth league and the forum accused the mayoral committee member for housing, Shehaam Sims, of being racist.
"This community is very angry," forum secretary Kuthala Mamba said.
Chumile Sali, deputy secretary of the ANCYL's Dullah Omar region, said the HRC had been asked for a ruling as mediation had "failed".
He said the meeting had ended because the city could not substantiate the statement that residents had agreed to enclose the toilets.
The city had been asked for the minutes of the November 2007 community meeting at which this had been agreed, Sali said.
Sims said the meeting had been held by consultants and the city did not have minutes.
"The consultants have sent us a letter that stated what happened at the meetings," she said.
The letter confirmed that it had been agreed the residents would enclose their toilets.
Sali said the forum had also asked at the meeting about the concrete enclosures the city had suggested might be used for the Makhaza residents.
Sims said it had been found it would be impossible to move these as the enclosure and base were one structure and a toilet was attached to the base.
In January, the forum had stopped her and a team of workers from using other materials to enclose the toilets, Sims said.
"I'm happy if the HRC comes up with a fair decision," she said.
The HRC's investigation was almost complete, spokesperson Vincent Moaga said.
An agreement between the Ward 95 Development Forum and city officials to find a way to enclose the toilets has not led to a solution.
City officials had suggested using concrete enclosures no longer needed elsewhere, but this measure was ruled out when it was found it would be impossible to move these.
Also, residents have questioned a statement made last month by city officials that the toilets were not enclosed because it had been agreed, when they were installed, that the householders would see to this.
In February, the HRC, asked by the ANC Youth League to investigate, tried to mediate, but the meeting ended prematurely when the youth league and the forum accused the mayoral committee member for housing, Shehaam Sims, of being racist.
"This community is very angry," forum secretary Kuthala Mamba said.
Chumile Sali, deputy secretary of the ANCYL's Dullah Omar region, said the HRC had been asked for a ruling as mediation had "failed".
He said the meeting had ended because the city could not substantiate the statement that residents had agreed to enclose the toilets.
The city had been asked for the minutes of the November 2007 community meeting at which this had been agreed, Sali said.
Sims said the meeting had been held by consultants and the city did not have minutes.
"The consultants have sent us a letter that stated what happened at the meetings," she said.
The letter confirmed that it had been agreed the residents would enclose their toilets.
Sali said the forum had also asked at the meeting about the concrete enclosures the city had suggested might be used for the Makhaza residents.
Sims said it had been found it would be impossible to move these as the enclosure and base were one structure and a toilet was attached to the base.
In January, the forum had stopped her and a team of workers from using other materials to enclose the toilets, Sims said.
"I'm happy if the HRC comes up with a fair decision," she said.
The HRC's investigation was almost complete, spokesperson Vincent Moaga said.
- Cape Times
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