Residents of Kosovo informal settlement in Philippi who were displaced by floods a month ago said on Wednesday they were concerned that the temporary area they had been allocated by the city could become a permanent home.
The residents were relocated to an area in Philippi which was identified for them by local ward councillor Monwabisi Mbaliswana after their homes were flooded.
They were supposed to be living there temporarily to allow contractors to level their own area to prevent water from flooding their shacks again, but they said work on their homes had not yet begun.
A Kosovo resident, Nonkonzo Gova, said they were struggling to cope in the new area as there was no electricity nor any ablution facilities.
"We are here in the dark and are being forced to get electricity illegally from nearby areas," said Gova.
She said they had to go to people in Samora Machel and "beg" to use their toilets.
"The toilets near us belong to other people and they lock them, forcing us to go to Samora Machel," she said.
Gova said they were all asking whether the government was going to give them proper houses.
"All we want are houses, we are not asking for money," she said.
"They talk about housing for all but what about us?
"How long are we going to fall victims of floods and fires?" Gova asked.
Nomava Dywili, another resident of Kosovo, said they had been promised temporary taps and toilets when they moved to the area.
"They said they were going to put taps and toilets here while we were waiting for our area to be fixed but none of that has been done," said Dywili.
Kosovo resident Nosimanye Mdleleni said she was disappointed by the way they had been treated and wanted the government to provide housing for them.
"We are struggling here without electricity and all we want are houses. We don't care where," said Mdleleni.
Ward councillor Monwabisi Mbaliswana said he had made contact with the city's head of engineering of informal settlements housing, Johan Gerber, and they were meeting today to discuss a way forward.
He said he had contacted Gerber because the Kosovo area was going to get electricity and the people living in the temporary area were going to lose out.
"People come to my office every day asking what is going on," said Mbaliswana.
- Cape Argus
The residents were relocated to an area in Philippi which was identified for them by local ward councillor Monwabisi Mbaliswana after their homes were flooded.
They were supposed to be living there temporarily to allow contractors to level their own area to prevent water from flooding their shacks again, but they said work on their homes had not yet begun.
A Kosovo resident, Nonkonzo Gova, said they were struggling to cope in the new area as there was no electricity nor any ablution facilities.
"We are here in the dark and are being forced to get electricity illegally from nearby areas," said Gova.
She said they had to go to people in Samora Machel and "beg" to use their toilets.
"The toilets near us belong to other people and they lock them, forcing us to go to Samora Machel," she said.
Gova said they were all asking whether the government was going to give them proper houses.
"All we want are houses, we are not asking for money," she said.
"They talk about housing for all but what about us?
"How long are we going to fall victims of floods and fires?" Gova asked.
Nomava Dywili, another resident of Kosovo, said they had been promised temporary taps and toilets when they moved to the area.
"They said they were going to put taps and toilets here while we were waiting for our area to be fixed but none of that has been done," said Dywili.
Kosovo resident Nosimanye Mdleleni said she was disappointed by the way they had been treated and wanted the government to provide housing for them.
"We are struggling here without electricity and all we want are houses. We don't care where," said Mdleleni.
Ward councillor Monwabisi Mbaliswana said he had made contact with the city's head of engineering of informal settlements housing, Johan Gerber, and they were meeting today to discuss a way forward.
He said he had contacted Gerber because the Kosovo area was going to get electricity and the people living in the temporary area were going to lose out.
"People come to my office every day asking what is going on," said Mbaliswana.
- Cape Argus
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