A group of Pumlani residents, incensed by the slow pace of housing delivery, have vowed to occupy a disputed stretch of land illegally by the end of today.
The land under dispute along Strandfontein Road in Lotus River is believed to belong to the failed Mama's Housing Project, which set out to house more than 350 residents on the city's housing list.
The provincial department of housing later took control of the project.
| 'We don't see why we can't go and live there instead of living in people's backyards' |
"Currently there are people from Eagle Park squatting on the land. We don't see why we can't also go and live there instead of living in people's backyards," said Pumlani resident Thandi Dayimani.
Dayimani, a mother of two, said she paid R250 rent to live in someone's backyard.
"I am tired of living there. If I move I won't need to pay rent and I will have my own place," she said.
Pumlani resident Professor Jolingana said he had met ward councillor Basil Lee to discuss the boundaries between the Mama's Housing Project and the land that was earmarked for Pumlani residents.
| 'Essentially we did allocate a piece of land to Pumlani residents, but the project stalled' |
They also asked members of the Mama's Housing Project Residents' Committee to leave the meeting.
"With all due respect, we ask that you leave our meeting until the council has told us where we stand," said a member of the audience.
The members left, but Mama's Housing Project residents' committee member Shireen Ishmael said she feared that the dispute would not be resolved.
"Essentially we did allocate a piece of land to Pumlani residents, but the project stalled, and they are now moving on to the land we paid for," she said.
Ishmael said the group had hired a lawyer to determine when the provincial government would be building their houses. - Cape Argus
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