Squatters want fulfillment of housing promise

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August 28 2006 at 08:49AM

Almost a year since eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba announced an ambitious pre-election R10-billion low-cost housing plan for 20 000 families on prime land north of Durban, no work has started on the proposed site.

Opposition parties and shack dwellers – who were promised they would be first in line for the new houses on a site bordering Umhlanga Ridge, Mount Edgecombe and Phoenix – have heard nothing more about the development.

Just before the last municipal elections Mlaba said development of the four-year Phoenix East integrated housing development project would start early this year.

The site is owned by Moreland Developments which is part of the Tongaat-Hulett Group.

EThekwini Municipality executive committee member and DA Councillor John Steenhuisen said the situation with the low-cost housing project “remains the same”.

To date, there had been no consultation with any council committee and no formal approval given, he said.

When the announcement was made last year opposition parties were concerned that the decision had not been put to the council. They raised concerns that the plan would affect property prices in bordering areas and would affect the rights of people living in surrounding communities.

Steenhuisen said he was “highly suspicious” of the housing project announcement which had come at a “convenient time” ahead of registrations for the local government election.

Moreland Director T C Chetty confirmed that no development had begun. His organisation and the municipality were engaging in the necessary processes of consultation with all stakeholders.

S’bu Zikode, President of Abahlali baseMjondolo, an organisation looking after the interests of people living in informal settlements, said the shack dwellers had not been given time-frames on housing delivery.

The movement, which has more than 20 000 members from 30 informal settlements in Durban and Pinetown, is the largest organisation in the country known to be with working with shack dwellers for their rights.

After the announcement, Zikode said his organisation had sent Mlaba a document on November 27 last year, asking about the municipality’s planned housing developments that had not been accomplished. They had received no response.

Commenting on behalf of Mlaba, housing, cleansing, solid waste and human resources support committee Chairman S’bu Gumede said the city was working closely with land owners, Moreland, in “creating an integrated human settlement which provides housing and work opportunities for people from all walks of life”. The development was a large and complex one that required partnership with the owners and the government.

A joint planning team comprising the municipality and Moreland officials was investigating the planning options and potential land uses for the area.

Gumede said a joint “visioning workshop” by the team had been held in June and the outcome was to be presented to senior city officials.

“In short, the project is on and all necessary processes are in progress,” he said.

amelia.naidoo@inl.co.za

o This article was originally published on page 8 of The Mercury on August 28, 2006