THE housing shortage in the Cape and allegations that certain groups are favoured, created violence in Delft when residents became involved in street fights with the police.
Backyard dwellers in Delft are up in arms because residents of Langa started moving into temporary housing units in Delft last Wednesday.
The dissatisfied people are of the opinion they are entitled to the housing.
Lorries transporting property of Langa residents who were the victims of the Joe Slovo fire in December last year, were stoned in Delft before police dispersed the angry crowd with a warning shot and a shock granade.
Many people were arrested.
The Langa residents had been promised houses in the N2 Gateway project. Until this project has been completed, they will live in Delft…]
An angry Maureen Philander, a resident of Delft, told reporters residents were sick and tired of empty promises regarding housing for Delft backyard dwellers.
“We’ve had enough. We were promised houses and now they move people from Langa into the houses. We are from Delft. It is our right to move into the houses,” she said.
People shouted: “We are going to burn down the houses!”
Gertsie Cupido, another resident, said she has been waiting for the past sixteen years.
“Why must I wait 16 years and they immediately get houses? It is simply not right,” she said.
A few hundred Delft residents demonstrated to show their dissatisfaction with a faulty system while members of the South African Police Service and of the City Police watched.
Buyiswa Mjobo, a city councillor, addressed the crowd and said, “If you want a meeting, let us go to the rentals office and discuss the matter. We will not solve the problem in this way.”
The demonstrators were not happy with her words. When the lorries with the property of the Langa people arrived, the stone throwing started.
When the police intervened, the crowd calmed down, but then emotions once more ran high and a bus was also stoned.
Monde Maduba, a Langa resident, earlier expressed fear for the safety of the Langa people.
“We are not happy. There is much crime. The people here stone our houses. We are not safe,” he said.
Richard Dyantyi, Western Cape minister of local government and housing, said his department wants to make it clear that the actions were unacceptable and could not be condoned,.
According to him, talks were held earlier with the residents of Delft.
“The Langa people will only be staying in Delft until the N2 Gateway project has been finalised.”
He said he could understand the people of Delft’s attitude, but they must realise they were not the only ones who need housing.
“The housing problem is very complex. Delft is not my only priority. They will not solve the problem by acting in this way.
“We are ready to listen to their grievances, but their present actions are unacceptable.
“We will not be intimidated by this action,” he said.
He said the people of Delft must remember that Phase 2 of the Gateway project will accommodate them.
“They must just wait.” - City Vision
Backyard dwellers in Delft are up in arms because residents of Langa started moving into temporary housing units in Delft last Wednesday.
The dissatisfied people are of the opinion they are entitled to the housing.
Lorries transporting property of Langa residents who were the victims of the Joe Slovo fire in December last year, were stoned in Delft before police dispersed the angry crowd with a warning shot and a shock granade.
Many people were arrested.
The Langa residents had been promised houses in the N2 Gateway project. Until this project has been completed, they will live in Delft…]
An angry Maureen Philander, a resident of Delft, told reporters residents were sick and tired of empty promises regarding housing for Delft backyard dwellers.
“We’ve had enough. We were promised houses and now they move people from Langa into the houses. We are from Delft. It is our right to move into the houses,” she said.
People shouted: “We are going to burn down the houses!”
Gertsie Cupido, another resident, said she has been waiting for the past sixteen years.
“Why must I wait 16 years and they immediately get houses? It is simply not right,” she said.
A few hundred Delft residents demonstrated to show their dissatisfaction with a faulty system while members of the South African Police Service and of the City Police watched.
Buyiswa Mjobo, a city councillor, addressed the crowd and said, “If you want a meeting, let us go to the rentals office and discuss the matter. We will not solve the problem in this way.”
The demonstrators were not happy with her words. When the lorries with the property of the Langa people arrived, the stone throwing started.
When the police intervened, the crowd calmed down, but then emotions once more ran high and a bus was also stoned.
Monde Maduba, a Langa resident, earlier expressed fear for the safety of the Langa people.
“We are not happy. There is much crime. The people here stone our houses. We are not safe,” he said.
Richard Dyantyi, Western Cape minister of local government and housing, said his department wants to make it clear that the actions were unacceptable and could not be condoned,.
According to him, talks were held earlier with the residents of Delft.
“The Langa people will only be staying in Delft until the N2 Gateway project has been finalised.”
He said he could understand the people of Delft’s attitude, but they must realise they were not the only ones who need housing.
“The housing problem is very complex. Delft is not my only priority. They will not solve the problem by acting in this way.
“We are ready to listen to their grievances, but their present actions are unacceptable.
“We will not be intimidated by this action,” he said.
He said the people of Delft must remember that Phase 2 of the Gateway project will accommodate them.
“They must just wait.” - City Vision
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