As D-day for the occupation of homes in the N2 Gateway Project nears, backyard dweller organisations from Gugulethu and other areas are raising concerns about the allocation criteria, and are warning of potential “chaos” when people start moving in.
Mncedisi Twalo, head of the Gugulethu Backyarder’s Association said the backyarders from Nyanga, Philippi and Langa had met with Cape Town mayor Helen Zille, director for human settlements Seth Maqethuka, mayoral committee member for housing Dan Plato and city housing official Basil Davidson on Monday.
“We demanded an explanation about the allocation,” said Twalo.
“Province is in charge, but our questions are related to the criteria.
‘The backlog increases because of the influx of people and young people are also growing up’
They are talking about giving the houses to people earning R3 000. People being interviewed don’t qualify because they earn less than R3 000.
“And this 70 percent shack dwellers and 30 percent backyarders criteria, where does it come from? It’s painful for backyarders.
“We’re not happy, we want 50-50. The people being given 70 percent only arrived in Cape Town now and we have been living in backyards for years.
“Now we have to tell this news to the masses. It’s going to be chaos,” said Twalo.
He said the housing backlog was being politicised.
“There is also Zille’s pilot project for backyarders in Grassy Park. When they invaded land they were removed, but within 72 hours they had been given back their material and a parcel of land,” he said.
“Treatment is not the same. It’s excluding us. They tell us about other projects like the Mau Mau Project, but they are not getting implemented. It’s still in the pipeline.
“Bear in mind the backlog increases because of the influx of people and young people are also growing up.”
The housing department’s response was that the allocation stays. - Cape Times
Mncedisi Twalo, head of the Gugulethu Backyarder’s Association said the backyarders from Nyanga, Philippi and Langa had met with Cape Town mayor Helen Zille, director for human settlements Seth Maqethuka, mayoral committee member for housing Dan Plato and city housing official Basil Davidson on Monday.
“We demanded an explanation about the allocation,” said Twalo.
“Province is in charge, but our questions are related to the criteria.
‘The backlog increases because of the influx of people and young people are also growing up’
They are talking about giving the houses to people earning R3 000. People being interviewed don’t qualify because they earn less than R3 000.
“And this 70 percent shack dwellers and 30 percent backyarders criteria, where does it come from? It’s painful for backyarders.
“We’re not happy, we want 50-50. The people being given 70 percent only arrived in Cape Town now and we have been living in backyards for years.
“Now we have to tell this news to the masses. It’s going to be chaos,” said Twalo.
He said the housing backlog was being politicised.
“There is also Zille’s pilot project for backyarders in Grassy Park. When they invaded land they were removed, but within 72 hours they had been given back their material and a parcel of land,” he said.
“Treatment is not the same. It’s excluding us. They tell us about other projects like the Mau Mau Project, but they are not getting implemented. It’s still in the pipeline.
“Bear in mind the backlog increases because of the influx of people and young people are also growing up.”
The housing department’s response was that the allocation stays. - Cape Times
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