Buziwe Nocuze
When heavy rains flooded their shacks, they took refuge in a community hall. But now the City of Cape Town wants them out – and is threatening to evict them.
Weliswa Madenuka, 45, moved to the Burundi informal settlement in Mfuleni township, Cape Town 10 years ago. Her life changed last month after rains flooded her shack, forcing her to leave.
Like most of her neighbours she went to the Chris Hani Community Hall for temporary shelter.
The city says their occupation of the hall is illegal.
But Madenuka told Scrolla.Africa that she and many other residents from her area chose to occupy the hall because it belongs to the community.
They said they will fight the eviction unless they are given a safe space to erect their shacks.
“They are evicting us as if the place is conducive. It’s been a month since I arrived here. It is cold. There is no privacy. We can’t do certain things because we are mixed with all ages,” she said, adding that they even struggle to get food at the hall.
Another community member, Nomalungisa Mvakwendlu, 38, said she doesn’t know where the city wants them to go because the officials saw how bad their area is.
“Our kids get sick from sleeping on the floor. The city needs to stop thinking we came here for vacations.”
She said they were desperate and decided that the community hall was the safest place for them.
Councillor Patricia van der Ross, mayoral committee member for community service and health, said a case has been opened with the SAPS.
“Various efforts to engage the community members by the ward councillor and sub-council chairperson have been unsuccessful, and we are now considering the next step, which is eviction,” Van der Ross said.
Image source: Floodlist
