Millions pumped into Jika Joe re-settlement programme
07 May 2008
Sandile Waka-Zamisa

Jika Joe shack dwellers who were displaced by floods early this year
will be housed in a temporary establishment while construction of
permanent accommodation is under way.

A budget of R4,3 million has been allocated for the emergency settlement
programme. More than 200 people who are currently staying in tents
provided by the Msunduzi disaster management will be accommodated near
Masukwana (East) Street.

The emergency settlement programme comes after hundreds of people were
displaced in floods in January and February.

Msunduzi Mayor Zanele Hlatshwayo, the deputy mayor and chairman of the
infrastructure, services and facilities committee, Mervin Dirks, Ward 33
councillor Peter Green, and Jika Joe community leader Bongani Mkhize
attended the sod turning event yesterday.

It has been proposed that the temporary units should be three- or
four-storey buildings. Green said the plan is to permanently clear the
informal settlement and relocate its people.

“There are two phases in this project. The first is clearing of the
floodplain and the second phase is to build the sustainable human
settlement (SHS) in line with the informal settlement clearance.”

A social survey is under way to determine how many people live in the
informal settlement as well as their family composition, so it can be
determined how many units to build in the second phase.

John Gutridge of disaster management said the temporary accommodation
will later be developed into permanent accommodation. He said all shack
dwellers will be removed to the SHS. Gutridge said a few places have
been earmarked for building of permanent accommodation.

Some of these areas include open land near Ash Road and Paton Street.
The construction of SHS is expected to be complete two years following
the completion of the temporary settlement.

Mkhize said the community acknowledges the efforts of the municipality.

“We are grateful that we will finally have formal accommodation. These
are the fruits of our struggle to be recognised as permanent residents
in the city. We have refused to be removed to France and elsewhere far
away from the city because we belong here.”

The existing shacks will be demolished when people are being moved to
new accommodation. Dirks said the area will be monitored to prevent
people coming back.

“We will also make sure that we do away with the illegal landlords. The
emergency settlements are a free accommodation, no renting will be
allowed,” said Dirks.

sandilez@witness.co.za