Samora Machel residents protest violently

Samora Machel residents say they will continue to protest until the government provides clear answers on when they will receive formal housing.

Yesterday police dispersed residents with rubber bullets as they barricaded the bottom of Oliver Tambo Drive with burning tyres.

But the City of Cape Town said Mayor Dan Plato's committee on informal housing would meet next week to ad-dress concerns raised by the residents and those of informal settlements across the city.

Earlier yesterday morning the protesters closed Vanguard Drive at the Oliver Tambo intersection, pelting a passing Golden Arrow bus with stones and burning rubbish.

Police spokeswoman Nto-mboxolo Sitshitshi said no arrests had been made and that police would continue patrols in the area today.

A representative of the group, Siyabulela Mafo, said they would be handing a memorandum to ward councillor Monwabisi Mbaliswana in the next few days.

Mafo said the community had been promised formal housing by the national and provincial departments of Housing and the City of Cape Town. But as yet another winter approached, these promises had not been fulfilled.

He said they would continue with protests for the next few days. They had originally planned the action to take place before the national elections, but did not want the protests to seem politically motivated.

Another resident, Alfred Mohakali, said their cries for government assistance repeatedly fell on deaf ears.

He has been living in a backyard dwelling for the past ten years.

Mbaliswana, the local ward councillor, said he was aware of the community's concerns. He said he would be meeting with relevant city officials.

"I want the officials to come chat to the residents to give them answers on their issues."

City spokesperson Kylie Hatton said Plato would hold a meeting with city officials on Wednesday to discuss issues including the management of informal settlements; the provision of financial assistance to the poor; and land acquisition. "These are not cut and dried issues, and the committee will be looking at the concerns as a whole."

- Cape Argus