By Anita Dangazele
- Mayor Nyaniso Nelani and his team face an angry crowd in ward 9 as residents reject their plan to build temporary shelters for June flood victims.
- Locals complain about existing crime problems and say they were promised houses first before the government brings in more homeless families.
The King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality’s plan to house nearly 200 Eastern Cape flood victims in Maydene Farm fell apart on Monday when angry locals chased them away.
Mayor Nyaniso Nelani and his team faced an angry crowd in ward 9, where the municipality has set aside some land for temporary shelters for victims of the June floods. But most residents refused to accept more poor families in their area.
Nelani, backed by his mayoral committee and officials from Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s office, pleaded with residents to let the government build temporary homes in Maydene Farm.
“The June 10 floods changed everything. A total of 103 people died, one child is still missing, and the search continues,” he said. “We have a duty to take care of the survivors and help them reclaim their lives.”
But locals made it clear they wanted no part of it.
Resident Lindiwe Nonkqayana said: “There are many people here who need houses. We were told there is not enough land, and now suddenly you come to us and tell us there is land. There is a forest in zone 14, why don’t you go there?”
Another resident, Mthetheleli Matika, said Maydene Farm was already struggling with crime. “Our children are raped in this ward. We do not know how they live and now you want to bring them here to us, why?” he said.
The residents also reminded Nelani that flood victims and other homeless families had been dumped in their area before and then forgotten by the government.
Despite the deadlock, Nelani said the land was municipal property and promised to continue talks until a solution is found.
“We said we are consulting, and we will continue to do so,” he said.
Pictured above: KSD mayor Nyaniso Nelani.
Image source: King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality
