http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2011/05/11/basic-services-for-durban-squatters

Basic services for Durban squatters

11-May-2011 | Corrinne Louw

THE eThekwini municipality has announced that it will provide basic services to residents living in informal settlements around Durban

The news comes shortly before the municipal elections on May 18.

The city said it would provide roads, electricity and storm water drainage in a pilot project that would kick off at the Redcliffe and Kenville settlements.

Residents in informal settlements have had to make do with nonexistent sewerage, no roads and many have resorted to illegal electricity connections.

Sbu Zikode, president of the country’s biggest shack dweller movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, has rubbished the news, labelling it “electioneering”.

“We welcome the news, if it’s true, but we question why this is only being announced shortly before the elections,” he said. “The city has long had a policy that says it will not provide electricity to informal households. It now strikes us as strange that they are announcing this change.”

Faizal Seedat of the city’s housing planning department said Redcliffe and Kenville informal settlements would serve as pilot projects.

“The principle of the interim services initiative acknowledges the fact that there will be a large number of informal settlements that will have to wait years to be addressed by the housing programme.

“But given their location to social and economic opportunities there is no reason why such communities cannot be immediately serviced.”

Zikode said: “No matter what the city does, the lives of people who died in shack fires cannot be returned.”