Residents of an informal settlement near Elsies River are despairing that they will never be moved from "the dump", saying that hundreds of them were promised in 1997 that they would be moved to a temporary area while they waited for permanent housing.
Now, 11 years later, they are still waiting.
The settlement, known as Malawi camp, is a grim place to live. Resident Johanna Beukes says her shack has been under water for the past five weeks - and no one has arrived with any help.
Community leader Mziwabantu Gxokwe confirmed that 403 residents were approved by the Department of Housing for new homes, and had been on the waiting list since 1997.
They were supposed to have been moved to a temporary area in the meantime, but had heard nothing since.
Gxokwe said the only help that had been forthcoming was in the form of plastic to cover their shacks.
This, however, did nothing to help with the water that seeped into their homes from the ground.
"The plastic they are giving them doesn't make any difference, because the volume of water underground is too high, and water is coming into the shacks," he said.
Beukes, who has lived in the settlement for 14 years, said she had approached a member of the area's committee for help, but was told there was nothing he could do for her.
"I must stay here in the water," she said, adding that her husband Marvin has also visited the City of Cape Town's offices twice.
He was told that someone would get back to him.
"He went there twice and they said they were going to call me. But that was five months ago.
"They never called," she said.
They had also had no feedback on their application to be moved, she added.
Beukes said she and her daughter were getting sick because of the cold and wet conditions.
- Cape Argus
Now, 11 years later, they are still waiting.
The settlement, known as Malawi camp, is a grim place to live. Resident Johanna Beukes says her shack has been under water for the past five weeks - and no one has arrived with any help.
Community leader Mziwabantu Gxokwe confirmed that 403 residents were approved by the Department of Housing for new homes, and had been on the waiting list since 1997.
They were supposed to have been moved to a temporary area in the meantime, but had heard nothing since.
Gxokwe said the only help that had been forthcoming was in the form of plastic to cover their shacks.
This, however, did nothing to help with the water that seeped into their homes from the ground.
"The plastic they are giving them doesn't make any difference, because the volume of water underground is too high, and water is coming into the shacks," he said.
Beukes, who has lived in the settlement for 14 years, said she had approached a member of the area's committee for help, but was told there was nothing he could do for her.
"I must stay here in the water," she said, adding that her husband Marvin has also visited the City of Cape Town's offices twice.
He was told that someone would get back to him.
"He went there twice and they said they were going to call me. But that was five months ago.
"They never called," she said.
They had also had no feedback on their application to be moved, she added.
Beukes said she and her daughter were getting sick because of the cold and wet conditions.
- Cape Argus
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