A group of angry residents in Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, who invaded partially completed houses, have vowed to resist moving, saying that they were "going nowhere".
About 100 invaders have moved into houses being built by housing agents Thubelisha Homes. A first group moved in in February and another group joined them, moving from Site C and Makhaya.
The houses, which they say they moved into because no one was living there, have no windows and the roofing is unfinished.
One of the people who have taken up residence in a four-roomed house, Malusi Pamba, said on Wednesday that he did not feel guilty about occupying the property as he had been waiting for a long time for a house.
Pamba had previously rented a Makhaya house for six years, paying nearly R1 500 a month. He shared the house with his parents, a sick brother, and four children.
Pamba, who said he was on a housing waiting list, said he could no longer afford the rent but had to continue taking care of his entire family.
"I just could not wait any longer for a house. I saw the opportunity of bringing my family in and occupying it."
Pamba has fixed the roof and fitted windows in the house. He said he also intended extending the house.
"We're desperate. We're trying to express our feelings and hurt to the housing department," Pamba said.
"If they come to evict us, I am going nowhere as long as I am alive and kicking," he said.
Some houses have names written on the walls of people who were intending to move in.
One resident due to move in, Nontobeko Songo, said she had panicked when she saw a name written on the walls of her future home.
"I had to move in as soon as possible," she said.
When invaders first moved into the homes in February, they broke down the doors, demanding that they be allowed to live in them.
Arrests and court appearances followed.
A group of these invaders argued that they were making the community safe because the empty houses were being used by youths to "smoke drugs and rape people".
Rightful owners report that when they try to claim their new homes, the invaders swear at them and threaten them.
On Monday, Nowynberg Mcatshulwa, 53, a legitimate owner, said she had quickly moved into her home when she found another family living there. With the help of the community, she got the home invaders to move out.
A ward councillor for Mandela Park, Rhyder Mkutswana, said he had tried several times to get Thubelisha Homes to address the problem.
"I've asked them many times that when a house is finished they must give the key to the rightful owner and not just build houses and leave them there," said Mkutswana.
He was set to meet the company again.
Prince Xhanti Sigcawu, regional general manager of Thubelisha Homes, said the invaders had been "spoken to so many times. If they must be arrested, that will happen".
- Cape Argus
About 100 invaders have moved into houses being built by housing agents Thubelisha Homes. A first group moved in in February and another group joined them, moving from Site C and Makhaya.
The houses, which they say they moved into because no one was living there, have no windows and the roofing is unfinished.
One of the people who have taken up residence in a four-roomed house, Malusi Pamba, said on Wednesday that he did not feel guilty about occupying the property as he had been waiting for a long time for a house.
Pamba had previously rented a Makhaya house for six years, paying nearly R1 500 a month. He shared the house with his parents, a sick brother, and four children.
Pamba, who said he was on a housing waiting list, said he could no longer afford the rent but had to continue taking care of his entire family.
"I just could not wait any longer for a house. I saw the opportunity of bringing my family in and occupying it."
Pamba has fixed the roof and fitted windows in the house. He said he also intended extending the house.
"We're desperate. We're trying to express our feelings and hurt to the housing department," Pamba said.
"If they come to evict us, I am going nowhere as long as I am alive and kicking," he said.
Some houses have names written on the walls of people who were intending to move in.
One resident due to move in, Nontobeko Songo, said she had panicked when she saw a name written on the walls of her future home.
"I had to move in as soon as possible," she said.
When invaders first moved into the homes in February, they broke down the doors, demanding that they be allowed to live in them.
Arrests and court appearances followed.
A group of these invaders argued that they were making the community safe because the empty houses were being used by youths to "smoke drugs and rape people".
Rightful owners report that when they try to claim their new homes, the invaders swear at them and threaten them.
On Monday, Nowynberg Mcatshulwa, 53, a legitimate owner, said she had quickly moved into her home when she found another family living there. With the help of the community, she got the home invaders to move out.
A ward councillor for Mandela Park, Rhyder Mkutswana, said he had tried several times to get Thubelisha Homes to address the problem.
"I've asked them many times that when a house is finished they must give the key to the rightful owner and not just build houses and leave them there," said Mkutswana.
He was set to meet the company again.
Prince Xhanti Sigcawu, regional general manager of Thubelisha Homes, said the invaders had been "spoken to so many times. If they must be arrested, that will happen".
- Cape Argus
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