http://www.sundaytribune.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3498075

Emmaus residents fall into housing cracks

October 22, 2006 Edition 1

Fundiswa Nkwanyana

The residents of Emmaus, near Pinetown, were ecstatic to move from their shacks to brick and mortar homes, but their joy turned to misery when the cracks started to appear. And there was no water to flush the toilets.

Now the community fears their homes might collapse.

The houses were built by the Mariannhill Mission Institute after conflict with residents over land allocation. The residents moved into the houses in 1991.

But their dream homes had no water or electricity.

The residents protested, but the mission handed the matter over to the municipality.

When the Sunday Tribune visited the families recently, cracks in the walls of houses, no water or electricity and unhygienic toilets were some of the problems they cited.

“We were under the impression that our houses would last a lifetime, but I don’t see these houses lasting,” said Nicholas Pewa, a community leader.

Pewa said that when they arrived at their homes, all they found were empty boxes. No pipelines had been installed for water.

“They installed toilets for us, which we can’t flush. We have to fetch the water from taps on the streets,” said Pewa.

Most of the residents have built outside toilets because they say the indoor ones are unhygienic.

Now they are demanding proper toilets.

Beatrice Hlengwa, 74, who supports her 10 grandchildren on her pension, said, “I can’t take it any more.

“I am scared that one day the roof will blow away and the walls will crumble,” she said.

The “rush job houses” as the residents calls them, have left the community stressed as they are battling to fix the houses. “Most of us can’t afford to pay for water or lights, let alone fix these houses,” said Douglas Khumalo.

Khumalo’s house is cracking from the base and water gets in, leaving puddles on the floor.

“As much as we want to help, our hands are tied,” said Father Vincent Mdabe, Provincial Superior of the mission.

“The matter was handed over to the municipality. We will help where we can.”

Head of housing in the eThekwini Municipality, Couglan Pather, said, “We are responsible for the maintenance of the services, but not for the houses”.

Pather said council was not party to the agreement between the residents and the mission and the houses were not their responsibility.