Thubelisha Homes, the company responsible for the N2 Gateway housing project, has appealed to the City of Cape Town to provide basic services for nearly 5,000 families living in temporary accommodation in Delft and surrounding areas.
But the city said it only has a contract to provide services for the first three temporary relocation areas it set up with Thubelisha.
Thubelisha regional manager Xhanti Sigcawu said conditions in the temporary relocation areas were so dire that the housing agent was forced to send in its own team to clean up the streets.
He said the city had failed to main the sewerage systems in the area and refuse was not collected for weeks.
This was a "dereliction of the constitutional and legislative obligations of local government", said Sigcawu.
The relocation areas were supposed to be provided with basic services while waiting for permanent homes in the national government's N2 Gateway housing development.
But the city spokesperson, Charles Cooper, said the council's water and sanitation department had a contractor with a cleaning unit on site in Delft to clean all sewer blockages. A daily cleaning contractor was also on site.
Cooper said the poor workmanship and materials used in the construction of the ablution blocks had added to the high maintenance costs. "This will be the second time in two months that the sewer lines will be cleaned at a cost of about R25 000."
City officials said on Wednesday the original agreement be-tween Thubelisha and the city only applies to Delft temporary relocation areas one, two and three.
For any sites established after these, the responsibility for management and maintenance lies with Thubelisha.
"The city was not party to the Delft phase 4 site developed by Thubelisha."
The city was stripped of all responsibility for the N2 Gateway project in June 2006, following clashes between the municipality and the national government about the overrun costs of the project and other allegations of mismanagement.
Cooper confirmed that solid waste does a weekly bin collection in all formal areas, including Delft, and a black bag collection in informal areas.
"The city does not sweep suburban streets. We rely on residents to assist us by not littering or dumping, using the bins provided and cleaning the street in front of their property," said Cooper.
But Sigcawu said: "It is embarrassing to hear that (Cape Town Mayor Helen) Zille has won the World Mayor award, but back home the streets are dirty."
Sigcawu said Thubelisha did not have the budget for its own cleaning service. However, if the city did not pull its weight with the provision of essential services, the Section 21 company would have to appoint its own cleaning service.
- Cape Times
But the city said it only has a contract to provide services for the first three temporary relocation areas it set up with Thubelisha.
Thubelisha regional manager Xhanti Sigcawu said conditions in the temporary relocation areas were so dire that the housing agent was forced to send in its own team to clean up the streets.
He said the city had failed to main the sewerage systems in the area and refuse was not collected for weeks.
This was a "dereliction of the constitutional and legislative obligations of local government", said Sigcawu.
The relocation areas were supposed to be provided with basic services while waiting for permanent homes in the national government's N2 Gateway housing development.
But the city spokesperson, Charles Cooper, said the council's water and sanitation department had a contractor with a cleaning unit on site in Delft to clean all sewer blockages. A daily cleaning contractor was also on site.
Cooper said the poor workmanship and materials used in the construction of the ablution blocks had added to the high maintenance costs. "This will be the second time in two months that the sewer lines will be cleaned at a cost of about R25 000."
City officials said on Wednesday the original agreement be-tween Thubelisha and the city only applies to Delft temporary relocation areas one, two and three.
For any sites established after these, the responsibility for management and maintenance lies with Thubelisha.
"The city was not party to the Delft phase 4 site developed by Thubelisha."
The city was stripped of all responsibility for the N2 Gateway project in June 2006, following clashes between the municipality and the national government about the overrun costs of the project and other allegations of mismanagement.
Cooper confirmed that solid waste does a weekly bin collection in all formal areas, including Delft, and a black bag collection in informal areas.
"The city does not sweep suburban streets. We rely on residents to assist us by not littering or dumping, using the bins provided and cleaning the street in front of their property," said Cooper.
But Sigcawu said: "It is embarrassing to hear that (Cape Town Mayor Helen) Zille has won the World Mayor award, but back home the streets are dirty."
Sigcawu said Thubelisha did not have the budget for its own cleaning service. However, if the city did not pull its weight with the provision of essential services, the Section 21 company would have to appoint its own cleaning service.
- Cape Times
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