Category Archives: Cape Argues

Cape Argus: Two die in Durban shack fire

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http://www.capeargus.co.za/?fSectionId=3571&fArticleId=nw20100705140902473C119843

Two die in Durban shack fire
5 July 2010, 14:16

Two people died and 2000 people were left homeless when up to 500 shacks burnt down at the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban, police said on Monday.

Colonel Jay Naicker said it was unclear how the fire started on Sunday, but it was thought to have been caused by an overturned paraffin stove or an illegal electrical connection.

The fire department was investigating, he said.

The fire was the fifth at the informal settlement this year, the shack dwellers’ association Abahlali basemjondolo said in a statement, adding that 200 shacks were destroyed in a fire there in April.

It said the only reason for the fires was the lack of electricity, which was a failure by the municipality to provide services.

Abahlali said it held a protest in March during which it raised its concerns, but had yet to receive a response from the government.

Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba also urged the province and municipality to responding to residents’ housing needs and their other long-standing concerns.

On Monday, the African National Congress conveyed its condolences to the families of those who died. – Sapa

Cape Argus: Backyard dwellers remain defiant

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http://www.khayelitshastruggles.com/2009/05/backyard-dwellers-remain-defiant.html

Backyard dwellers remain defiant
By Francis Hweshe
Source: Cape Argus
May 22 2009 at 02:34PM

The defiant backyard dwellers who are continuing to illegally occupy a piece of land in Macassar should retreat, Mayor Dan Plato said.

Tension has grown over the past three days, with the protesting group not backing down on its intention of permanently occupying land close to the N2.

On Thursday Plato said the protesters should stay away from the city-owned land, which had been budgeted for and earmarked for 2000 housing units.

Once environmental impact studies were completed, work would start, he said.

If the group was allowed to squat there, they would “start shouting for services” such as electricity and toilets, he said.

Plato claimed he had heard that certain elements had orchestrated the land invasion through misinformation.

They were sleeping in proper houses while causing trauma for the families spending nights out in the cold, he said.

On Tuesday, police and law enforcement agents razed structures the group had erected and confiscated their building materials.

A fracas broke out as the group clashed with the police, resulting in the injury of one policeman and several other people, and three arrests.

Professor Martin Legassick of the University of the Western Cape, a supporter of the backyard dwellers, was also held but later released.

A day later, the backyard dwellers said they had again erected about 70 structures on a nearby piece of land.

The structures were demolished on Thursday by the law-enforcement agents, and building materials confiscated.

In a statement, the group alleged they had occupied the second piece of land after they had had successful negotiations with local councillor John Heuvel.

“After three hours of negotiations between the backyard dwellers and the ward councillor, it was agreed that they could build on that land, which is 10m from the land they had occupied,” the group said.

Heuvel denied that he gave them the green light to occupy the land, saying politics was at play and “the situation was getting out of hand.”

He was set to meet city officials soon to discuss the matter.

Legassick said it was disgraceful for Heuvel to turn against the group.

“He (Heuvel) should explain himself,” said Legassick.

When the Cape Argus visited the area on Thursday, the situation was relatively calm, but police and law-enforcement agents were there with a Casspir and several police vans.

The backyard dwellers, some with beds, mattresses and blankets still lying on the land, claimed that Heuvel had betrayed them by ordering law-enforcement agents to raze their structures despite an agreement with him.

“People are desperate, my brethren.

“We don’t need violence.

“We need a place to stay,” said Gert Smit, 38.

Women with children said they had nowhere to go on the cold and rainy nights.

Their spokesman Mzonke Poni said the group would stay on the land and the way forward would be discussed on Friday night.

o This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Argus on May 22, 2009

Cape Argues: Thambo Square Floods

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http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4627067

NGO steps in to help shack dwellers

September 25 2008 at 12:37PM

By Nomangesi Mbiza

Thambo Square informal settlement residents in Gugulethu, whose shacks were flooded in recent rains, received blankets and food parcels from the International Islamic Relief organisation on Wednesday.

The plight of the residents came to light after they occupied the social services building in Gugulethu on Tuesday, seeking building materials and plastics for their shacks, as well as blankets and temporary accommodation.

The homeless group were offered shelter at a local community hall after their protest.

Zoliswa Fuyani, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years, said ward councillor Belinda Landingwe had not wanted to listen to those who had voted her in.

“When she (the ward councillor) is called to listen to our grievances she tells the people she cannot do anything for them,” Fuyani said.

However Landingwe said the residents of Thambo Square were taken to a temporary area in Delft after the flooding began.

“I don’t know why they came back but some of them told me that when they arrived in Delft their rooms were occupied by other people,” she said.

Landingwe said some of the residents had houses in a nearby area which were provided by the government, but that they had decided to rent them out.

“I am dealing with people who are affected by floods, not people who already have houses. And this is not the only place affected, there are other areas,” Landingwe pointed out.

She said she had conducted an inspection of the affected area and discovered that the water level had dropped, adding that she did not deal specifically with leaking roofs, but assisted only when flooding took place.

But the residents said they were tired of the “soup” that Landingwe kept feeding them, when all they wanted was proper housing.

“We don’t need anything from them as they always respond with soup,” said resident Silindile Mvambo.

Mcebisi Twalo, a representative of the Anti-Eviction Campaign, said they had called the International Islamic Relief and told them there were people who needed help.

“They visited the area last night and decided to offer people food and blankets.

“A local butcher also donated meat,” said Twalo.

o This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Argus on September 25, 2008

Cape Argus: Irene Grootboom dies without a house

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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080804110512425C272924

‘Heroine’ dies while still waiting

August 04 2008 at 12:19PM

By Francis Hweshe

Only days after speaking of her desire for a proper house, Irene Grootboom, who spearheaded a Constitutional Court case in 2000 for proper housing for the poor, died in her shack in Wallacedene. She was 39.

Grootboom died last Wednesday night in Wallacedene informal settlement after a short illness, her partner Peter Roman said on Sunday.

Grootboom’s family declined to divulge the cause of her death.

Eight years ago Grootboom brought an application to court on behalf of 510 children and 290 adults living in deplorable conditions in Wallacedene, demanding better housing.

The benchmark judgment declared that the state was obliged to devise and implement “a comprehensive and co-ordinated programme to realise the right of access to adequate housing”.

However, Grootboom has died “sick and tired” of being on the housing list.

Last Monday, when the Cape Argus visited her, she said: “When it rains water seeps through every crevice. I try to repair it but I can’t do much.

“I was supposed to get a house but I’m still in a shack with my sister-in-law and her three children. They keep promising us. I’m sick and tired of the whole thing.”

She said she was proud of the judgment and what it meant for the poor.

“Everybody was scared to go forward. I decided to go forward because we were poor and wanted a place to live.”

On Sunday when the Cape Argus visited her family, residents on Grootboom street, named after her, and those in surrounding areas, said they had lost a heroine.

“She was the first person to get the struggle on its feet,” said Magdalene May who also lives in a shack.

Roman, 46, said: “She was a lovely woman and fought for the poor. We started staying together since the time of the struggle for housing.”

Roman said for the past six years he and Grootboom had lived on empty promises of better housing.

Grootboom’s sister-in-law, Mary Baadtjies, said through tears: “During her last moment I was with her.”

Ward councillor Magwetshu Ndumiso said the community was shattered by the death of a woman dedicated to improving the lot of others.

“Most developments in this community are through her.”

The funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday .

o This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Argus on August 04, 2008