The allocation of subsidised housing to only 20 Zille-Raine Heights families in a Pelican Park housing project is "unfair", say some members of the community "living in fear" of eviction.
A city housing report on the allocation of houses to Zille-Raine Heights says during a public meeting in 2006, former mayor Helen Zille undertook to accommodate residents from the informal settlement who were registered on the city's database in the Pelican Park development.
And the city is also planning on evicting the 39 families and sending them to Happy Valley after the city was granted an eviction order by the high court.
"There are 20 such persons. At this stage, approximately 4,000 applicants have responded expressing interest. This list of 4,000, including the 20 from Zille-Raine Heights, currently constitutes the list of potential beneficiaries," the report said.
However, Yushra Adams, a community leader, said she was not aware that 20 of her neighbours would benefit.
"This is very unfair because some had houses before coming here and they didn't qualify. I've been on the waiting list for 17 years and I don't know if I'm part of the project," Adams said.
She said the whole community should be considered and not just 20, and blamed Zille for "breaking her promise" by saying the city would not relocate them.
In July, Happy Valley backyard dwellers invaded nearby land after hearing that about 50 Zille-Raine Heights families would be moved there. Zille-Rain Heights families had lost a court appeal against relocation.
"We all want to go to Pelican Park because our families are all here. It's nice because it's still in the southern suburbs. And what will happen to the 19 people who won't get housing. We want to know who the 20 people are and who is on that list. We should be together. We are also very upset (about the eviction). Zille said we won't be relocated and made a promise to the people of Zille-Raine Heights, but now they are going to evict us. The DA is evicting people at the moment," Adams said.
She said their pending eviction was political as the city had already provided the site with services like toilets.
"The ANC is pressing the city, so it's very political. People are living in fear and don't know when the eviction will take place," Adams said.
Christina Green, who lives with her daughter, said she was told that she was on the waiting list, but she wasn't sure if she would benefit|from the Pelican Park project.
Another resident, Gwendolene Botha, said she was "flagged" by the city and was later told that she did not qualify for a Pelican Park home.
"There are a lot of people who lost their slips (that show they are on the list)," Botha said.
On the pending eviction, she said they would rather be moved to the nearby informal settlements than be moved to Happy Valley.
Peter Oscroft, the project co-ordinator, said all Zille-Raine Heights residents were asked to register and some did not.
"Three years ago, they were told when I was at a public meeting with Zille. They were told exactly what to do. At the moment we can't do anything," Oscroft said.
On the pending eviction, Oscroft said he was not sure of when this would carried out.
- Cape Times
A city housing report on the allocation of houses to Zille-Raine Heights says during a public meeting in 2006, former mayor Helen Zille undertook to accommodate residents from the informal settlement who were registered on the city's database in the Pelican Park development.
And the city is also planning on evicting the 39 families and sending them to Happy Valley after the city was granted an eviction order by the high court.
"There are 20 such persons. At this stage, approximately 4,000 applicants have responded expressing interest. This list of 4,000, including the 20 from Zille-Raine Heights, currently constitutes the list of potential beneficiaries," the report said.
However, Yushra Adams, a community leader, said she was not aware that 20 of her neighbours would benefit.
"This is very unfair because some had houses before coming here and they didn't qualify. I've been on the waiting list for 17 years and I don't know if I'm part of the project," Adams said.
She said the whole community should be considered and not just 20, and blamed Zille for "breaking her promise" by saying the city would not relocate them.
In July, Happy Valley backyard dwellers invaded nearby land after hearing that about 50 Zille-Raine Heights families would be moved there. Zille-Rain Heights families had lost a court appeal against relocation.
"We all want to go to Pelican Park because our families are all here. It's nice because it's still in the southern suburbs. And what will happen to the 19 people who won't get housing. We want to know who the 20 people are and who is on that list. We should be together. We are also very upset (about the eviction). Zille said we won't be relocated and made a promise to the people of Zille-Raine Heights, but now they are going to evict us. The DA is evicting people at the moment," Adams said.
She said their pending eviction was political as the city had already provided the site with services like toilets.
"The ANC is pressing the city, so it's very political. People are living in fear and don't know when the eviction will take place," Adams said.
Christina Green, who lives with her daughter, said she was told that she was on the waiting list, but she wasn't sure if she would benefit|from the Pelican Park project.
Another resident, Gwendolene Botha, said she was "flagged" by the city and was later told that she did not qualify for a Pelican Park home.
"There are a lot of people who lost their slips (that show they are on the list)," Botha said.
On the pending eviction, she said they would rather be moved to the nearby informal settlements than be moved to Happy Valley.
Peter Oscroft, the project co-ordinator, said all Zille-Raine Heights residents were asked to register and some did not.
"Three years ago, they were told when I was at a public meeting with Zille. They were told exactly what to do. At the moment we can't do anything," Oscroft said.
On the pending eviction, Oscroft said he was not sure of when this would carried out.
- Cape Times
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