A day after a fire destroyed their homes, frustration boiled over in the Wag-'n-Bietjie informal settlement near Strand when protesting residents barricaded the N2 and stoned motorists to back their demand for more land to build new shacks.
Sunday's blaze left 1,800 people homeless and
destroyed more than 400 shacks in the overcrowded camp situated under overhead power lines.
On Monday, about 250 residents toyi-toyied along the N2, blocking the road with burning tyres and throwing stones at passing motorists.
The N2 through Somerset West was temporarily closed, and motorists had to take the R44 turnoff to Gordon''s Bay. Police fired rubber bullets and managed to disperse the group within an hour, but angry residents still lingered hours later.
Police spokesperson Randall Stoffels said police had not received reports of injuries or damage to property, and no one had been arrested.
Resident Lunga Smile said: "The people are angry and frustrated. Soon after the fire, they tried to rebuild their shacks on land near where their homes were, but early (on Monday) found their work had been demolished. When they started building again, police came back and destroyed their work. These people want land," he said.
Another resident, Bradley Molelo, said accommodation offered in a community hall was not good enough.
"Being in the hall means I must leave behind anything that was not destroyed in the fire. We can't just leave our things we worked and sweated for. We don't want to be crammed together in a hall," he said.
During the protest, residents had also vented their anger at Mayor Helen Zille and Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi, who visited the area on Sunday, ward councillor Xolani Sotashe said.
Residents had demanded to be moved to Vlakteplaas, a nearby vacant piece of land owned by the city.
"(On Sunday) they were told by the mayor that they would not be able to move there, (yesterday) morning I got a message to say that a move had been agreed (to) by the city, but this would be temporary," Sotashe said.
Even though residents were satisfied they would be able to move, a number of them said it was "unfair" they had been forced to build homes under "dangerous" power lines.
In a letter dated July 20, Dyantyi had warned the city of the dangers the residents faced.
Vusi Tshoshe, Dyantyi's spokesperson, said: "In the letter, he basically said Wag-'n-Bietjie was not fit for occupation, inviting the city to apply for funding to develop the land at Vlakteplaas."
The land for the fire victims was expected to be available within two weeks.
City housing executive director Hans Smit said it would be fast-tracked, and services such as water, toilets and access roads would be provided. "It will take 10 to 12 days. Once the site is ready, the fire victims will be given building materials so that they can build dwellings." - Cape Times
Sunday's blaze left 1,800 people homeless and
destroyed more than 400 shacks in the overcrowded camp situated under overhead power lines.On Monday, about 250 residents toyi-toyied along the N2, blocking the road with burning tyres and throwing stones at passing motorists.
The N2 through Somerset West was temporarily closed, and motorists had to take the R44 turnoff to Gordon''s Bay. Police fired rubber bullets and managed to disperse the group within an hour, but angry residents still lingered hours later.
Police spokesperson Randall Stoffels said police had not received reports of injuries or damage to property, and no one had been arrested.
Resident Lunga Smile said: "The people are angry and frustrated. Soon after the fire, they tried to rebuild their shacks on land near where their homes were, but early (on Monday) found their work had been demolished. When they started building again, police came back and destroyed their work. These people want land," he said.
Another resident, Bradley Molelo, said accommodation offered in a community hall was not good enough.
"Being in the hall means I must leave behind anything that was not destroyed in the fire. We can't just leave our things we worked and sweated for. We don't want to be crammed together in a hall," he said.
During the protest, residents had also vented their anger at Mayor Helen Zille and Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi, who visited the area on Sunday, ward councillor Xolani Sotashe said.
Residents had demanded to be moved to Vlakteplaas, a nearby vacant piece of land owned by the city.
"(On Sunday) they were told by the mayor that they would not be able to move there, (yesterday) morning I got a message to say that a move had been agreed (to) by the city, but this would be temporary," Sotashe said.
Even though residents were satisfied they would be able to move, a number of them said it was "unfair" they had been forced to build homes under "dangerous" power lines.
In a letter dated July 20, Dyantyi had warned the city of the dangers the residents faced.
Vusi Tshoshe, Dyantyi's spokesperson, said: "In the letter, he basically said Wag-'n-Bietjie was not fit for occupation, inviting the city to apply for funding to develop the land at Vlakteplaas."
The land for the fire victims was expected to be available within two weeks.
City housing executive director Hans Smit said it would be fast-tracked, and services such as water, toilets and access roads would be provided. "It will take 10 to 12 days. Once the site is ready, the fire victims will be given building materials so that they can build dwellings." - Cape Times
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