Corrugated iron homes are to replace the almost 800 shacks destroyed in the Foreman Road informal settlement, but it has taken more than a month and comes after wrangling over construction materials.
About 800 shacks were destroyed by fire in early September, leaving 3,000 residents homeless and virtually destitute.
Bulldozers and building materials, including poles, planks, cement, nails, doors and windows are already on site. The eThekwini housing department has supplied these free of charge to the displaced residents.
While the initial plan was to supply the materials only, and allow residents to rebuild their homes themselves, it was felt that the system might cause conflict.
Shack dwellers who previously had larger homes, might have felt entitled to the lion's share of the available resources, leaving a shortfall for others.
Residents therefore requested that a contractor be hired to ensure uniformity of design and size.
The Al-Imdaad Foundation, a Muslim NGO, is financing the cost of hiring the contractor, and also underpinning construction costs. The development will be done in four phases, starting with a block of 150 dwellings.
On Friday the area councillor, Yacoob Baig, will hold a meeting with representatives of the eThekwini housing department, the Al-Imdaad Foundation and shack dwellers to provide clarity on the exact date on which building will start.
Nonhle Pepu, community development spokesperson for the Foreman Road settlement, said residents were eagerly awaiting the outcome of the meeting.
She explained that living conditions were squalid, and the past few weeks had been very trying because more than 500 people shared 12 tents.
Lungisani Dlamini is one of many residents who took the initiative to rebuild his shack himself, rather than wait for council assistance.
"I could not stay in a tent for too long for reasons of safety and hygiene," he said.
"Although I rebuilt my shack, I would still very much like to have one of the more stable houses that the council will be building," Dlamini said.
- Daily Voice
About 800 shacks were destroyed by fire in early September, leaving 3,000 residents homeless and virtually destitute.
Bulldozers and building materials, including poles, planks, cement, nails, doors and windows are already on site. The eThekwini housing department has supplied these free of charge to the displaced residents.
| 'I could not stay in a tent for too long for reasons of safety and hygiene' |
Shack dwellers who previously had larger homes, might have felt entitled to the lion's share of the available resources, leaving a shortfall for others.
Residents therefore requested that a contractor be hired to ensure uniformity of design and size.
The Al-Imdaad Foundation, a Muslim NGO, is financing the cost of hiring the contractor, and also underpinning construction costs. The development will be done in four phases, starting with a block of 150 dwellings.
On Friday the area councillor, Yacoob Baig, will hold a meeting with representatives of the eThekwini housing department, the Al-Imdaad Foundation and shack dwellers to provide clarity on the exact date on which building will start.
Nonhle Pepu, community development spokesperson for the Foreman Road settlement, said residents were eagerly awaiting the outcome of the meeting.
She explained that living conditions were squalid, and the past few weeks had been very trying because more than 500 people shared 12 tents.
Lungisani Dlamini is one of many residents who took the initiative to rebuild his shack himself, rather than wait for council assistance.
"I could not stay in a tent for too long for reasons of safety and hygiene," he said.
"Although I rebuilt my shack, I would still very much like to have one of the more stable houses that the council will be building," Dlamini said.
- Daily Voice
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