By Doreen Mokgolo
The residents of Ext 21 Dladla Village in Tsakani took to the streets demanding the houses that they were promised by the City of Ekurhuleni in 2017.
The angry mob blocked the main and busy roads with burning tyres and rocks, preventing movement into the area.
This follows a series of shack fires that broke out in the area over the past week.
Residents believe if they had built the houses as promised seven years ago there wouldn’t be any shack fires.
Community leader Jabulani Nkosi said they are tired of false promises and being sent from pillar to post when they ask for a follow-up on the promised houses.
“We believe if we don’t stand up and fight for our houses more people are going to lose their lives in the shack fires.
“The houses were approved. What happened to them? Who is blocking the development and why?”
The informal settlements are composed of 366 shacks and residents have been fighting for RDP houses since the dawn of democracy.
Out of desperation the residents submitted their grievances to the Gauteng legislature on 28 April but their petition was sent back to the City of Ekurhuleni to address.
The Ekurhuleni Department of Human Settlement, responding to the grievances, produced a letter written seven years ago stating that houses would be developed for approved beneficiaries in 2017/18. Construction has not begun on that project.
The overflow would be relocated to the Mega Project in John Dube Ext 1, where bulk installation would commence in July 2017. In fact, construction is ongoing on that project.
During a recent mayoral imbizo, Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza promised to investigate what could have caused the delay of the development.
Resident Zolile Ngxangan, said like all the residents of this country they deserve to reap the fruits of democracy.
“We are now forced to fight for the houses that we rightfully qualify for. How many shacks should burn down and lives lost before we receive the houses?
“Every year in winter we experience death in the form of shack fires and we are expected to continue with life as if nothing happened?
“We are going to continue fighting until we get a commitment as to when they are going to start building the houses,” he said.
Pictured above: Tsakani residents are up in arms.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
