The City of Cape Town was warned that the Wag 'n Bietjie informal settlement near Somerset West, which burnt down at the weekend, was a disaster waiting to happen, says Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi.
Documents in the possession of the Cape Argus show that warnings were issued more than three months ago to alleviate the conditions at the impoverished Strand community.
However, the city says Dyantyi's allegations are an attempt to "gain political mileage out of people's misery".
This weekend the informal settlement was engulfed by a raging fire which killed one resident and razed about 400 corrugated iron dwellings.
About 1,800 people have been left homeless.
Dyantyi said on Tuesday: "Why must it take the destruction of property and loss of life for the city to agree to do what they were told and warned about three months ago?
"The city did not act even though there were three occasions to alert the mayor to the severe conditions at Wag 'n Bietjie."
The settlement is one of 222 informal settlements that the city of Cape Town has identified to be in need of basic services.
The city's health department was the first to raise the alarm about the dangers posed by the continued settlement on the area.
In a report published in June, the department said the living conditions in the area gave rise to preventable diseases and was vulnerable to floods and fires.
"This settlement is characterised by overcrowding, poverty, unstable and unhealthy housing structures, inadequate water supply and sanitation services and facilities," the report said.
The informal settlement is in an area with overhead heavy current electricity pylons.
It also has no working toilets, drainage system or fire hydrants.
In July, Dyantyi was invited to visit the settlement by the area's ward councillor.
He then wrote to Mayor Helen Zille warning about what "I believe is tantamount to an emergency and indeed a disaster waiting to happen".
On Wednesday Robert Macdonald, the mayoral spokesperson, dismissed Dyantyi's criticism as an attempt to "gain political mileage out of people's misery".
"The city has informed MEC Dyantyi that Wag 'n Bietjie is on our list of 222 informal settlements around Cape Town that are to receive basic services," he said.
"There are a number of settlements that are higher up on the list than Wag 'n Bietjie, because they face similar levels of risk and have been waiting longer."
Macdonald said the city was exploring relocating residents to Macassar as Vlakteplaas had already been promised to backyard dwellers from Ruyterwacht. "
It's not finalised yet, but it's being discussed," he added. - Cape Argus
Documents in the possession of the Cape Argus show that warnings were issued more than three months ago to alleviate the conditions at the impoverished Strand community.
However, the city says Dyantyi's allegations are an attempt to "gain political mileage out of people's misery".
This weekend the informal settlement was engulfed by a raging fire which killed one resident and razed about 400 corrugated iron dwellings.
About 1,800 people have been left homeless.
Dyantyi said on Tuesday: "Why must it take the destruction of property and loss of life for the city to agree to do what they were told and warned about three months ago?
"The city did not act even though there were three occasions to alert the mayor to the severe conditions at Wag 'n Bietjie."
The settlement is one of 222 informal settlements that the city of Cape Town has identified to be in need of basic services.
The city's health department was the first to raise the alarm about the dangers posed by the continued settlement on the area.
In a report published in June, the department said the living conditions in the area gave rise to preventable diseases and was vulnerable to floods and fires.
"This settlement is characterised by overcrowding, poverty, unstable and unhealthy housing structures, inadequate water supply and sanitation services and facilities," the report said.
The informal settlement is in an area with overhead heavy current electricity pylons.
It also has no working toilets, drainage system or fire hydrants.
In July, Dyantyi was invited to visit the settlement by the area's ward councillor.
He then wrote to Mayor Helen Zille warning about what "I believe is tantamount to an emergency and indeed a disaster waiting to happen".
On Wednesday Robert Macdonald, the mayoral spokesperson, dismissed Dyantyi's criticism as an attempt to "gain political mileage out of people's misery".
"The city has informed MEC Dyantyi that Wag 'n Bietjie is on our list of 222 informal settlements around Cape Town that are to receive basic services," he said.
"There are a number of settlements that are higher up on the list than Wag 'n Bietjie, because they face similar levels of risk and have been waiting longer."
Macdonald said the city was exploring relocating residents to Macassar as Vlakteplaas had already been promised to backyard dwellers from Ruyterwacht. "
It's not finalised yet, but it's being discussed," he added. - Cape Argus
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