Cape Town - The
City of Cape Town has hit back at the SA National Roads Agency Ltd over
its claims it was being held to ransom over a proposed R10 billion
tolling of the N1 and N2.
The city said it was Sanral which had stopped it from providing services to Zola residents in Strand.
“Sanral
must stop this blame game and put the needs of residents first. Sanral
refused to allow the city to provide these services and used the dispute
between the city and Sanral on the proposed N1 and N2 Winelands Toll
Road Project as the basis for their refusal,” mayoral committee member
for human settlements Tandeka Gqada said on Wednesday.
On
Monday, more than 1 000 people, including children were left homeless
after 450 shacks were demolished under a court order Sanral had
obtained.
A day later, in response to a
request for comment, Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said the city’s
opposition to Sanral’s proposal to buy property earmarked for the
relocation of illegal occupants of the land along the Onverwacht
Interchange resulted in the “unnecessary” eviction.
The city’s stance was “purely based on political expediency” he had said.
Gqada
said on Wednesday that the city had insisted that Sanral provide water
and sanitation services to the households, but its attempts to get a
commitment from the agency had failed.
“The
city has never objected to Sanral buying land for the historical
occupiers of the land when this was discussed in 2011. Sanral’s
statement is an obvious attempt to pass the buck on to the city, and is
disingenuous,” Gqada said.
Gqada said
the city was not responsible for policing the informal settlement and
could not provide services as the land was privately owned.
“As
the settlements are on private land, the city may not provide services
without the consent of the land owner. In the 2004/2005 financial year,
Sanral allowed the city to provide a certain number of container
toilets. These toilets have unfortunately been vandalised and damaged
beyond repair,” she said.
“Sanral appointed a
private company to halt further growth of the settlements but new
structures, were still erected,” said Gqada.
Sanral
spokesman Vusi Mona did not respond to messages. Zobuzwe Ngobese of
Meropa Communications which sent Mona’s comment on Tuesday said: “Your
query is receiving attention. We will revert with a response.”
Meanwhile
Zola resident Ntombovuyo Mdakandini, whose shack was demolished on
Monday, said it has been difficult for them to relocate.
“Some
of us are sleeping at the community hall. Our building material, which
was taken by the officials has not been returned to us. Some have been
sleeping at their relatives’ homes. It’s been difficult for us to find a
place to stay and we don’t know how long we will stay here,” said
Mdakandini.
siyavuya.mzantsi@inl.co.za
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