Category Archives: Gugu Mbonambi

Mercury: Municipality plays catch-up

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http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5434525

Municipality plays catch-up

In the last of our series taking a closer look at this year’s municipal budget, Gugu Mbonambi takes a look at the enormous service backlogs in the city

April 19, 2010 Edition 1

PLAYING catch-up. That’s what the eThekwini municipality has been doing for more than a decade as it tries to redress the infrastructural backlogs of the past which, in areas like KwaMashu and Umlazi, has meant starting virtually from scratch.

And the harsh reality is that it expects the situation to start levelling out only in six to eight years.

“There is a lag between what we spend and when the revenue will start coming in,” city manager Michael Sutcliffe said, explaining that while the city’s rates base might have expanded considerably in the past decade it did not necessarily result in more income for the city coffers because of the high levels of poverty in the metro.

The city’s focus, however, was not only on addressing the backlogs in capital projects, like the provision of housing, but also in maintenance of existing infrastructure which, in many former whites-only suburbs, was near crumbling.

The city was spending about 10 percent (R2.1 billion) of its operating budget on maintenance, 6.5 percent higher than the national average, but this was still insufficient, said city treasurer Krish Kumar, adding that addressing issues like leaking water pipes and potholes was a key focus of this year’s budget.

On housing, the city was sitting with a backlog of 200 000 houses and says it will take at least 20 years to meet that demand. This time frame will, however, depend on the roll-out of government funding which has been reduced in recent years.

Sutcliffe last week said reduced national and provincial government subsidies had compelled the city to cut down on its housing programme.

The city’s annual target to build 16 000 houses had to be reduced to 13 500 houses. This would be reviewed depending on the availability of funding.

“The non-payment of subsidies for services such as housing means the municipality has to allocate its own resources to make up for the shortfall,” he said. Sutcliffe added that each RDP house built by the municipality cost about R110 000 whereas the national government gave the municipality about R60 000, meaning R50 000 had to come from the city.

Housing was one of the services which in terms of the constitution was a responsibility of provincial and national government but has been allocated to local government. Sutcliffe also admitted that politics had played a role in slowing down housing provision, saying the city’s identification of the most suitable plots for low-cost housing did not always correspond with politicians’ desire to please their constituencies.

Electricity and water backlogs of À 504 and 85 326 respectively are also linked to the city’s housing programme.

According to the budget report illegal power connections and cable theft cost the city about R18m in lost revenue annually and was also a threat to service provision.

“The municipality has approved a plan to provide an interim supply of electricity to 223 500 households in 572 informal settlements across eThekwini,” the report read.

But S’bu Zikode, president of Abahlali baseMjodolo (shack dwellers’ movement), said while he acknowledged that housing was not something that could be solved overnight, the city’s failure to engage with shack dwellers was a major concern.

“The real issue is that the city doesn’t seem to have any political will to engage with the community, especially shack dwellers who are the beneficiaries of RDP houses. Even if the municipality’s resources are limited they are failing to address the housing crisis.

“Everything is about giving tenders to friends as opposed to people who are qualified to deliver proper houses,” he said.

Zikode said RDP houses in Ntuzuma and Siyanda were sub-standard and did not have water or electricity.

The issue of shoddy housing in the municipality has always been a contentious issue with opposition parties calling for more stringent monitoring strategies to be put in place.

Last month the city’s housing committee chairman, Nigel Gumede, said he did not disagree that some of the houses were substandard, but blamed this on the fact that they were built on “unsuitable land”.

He said this was caused by pressure from the community as they did not want to move to more suitable land.

There was also a scarcity of land.

The Mercury: Shack dwellers vow to march

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http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5390599

Shack dwellers vow to march

March 15, 2010 Edition 1

GUGU MBONAMBI

Abahlali Basemjondolo yesterday vowed to go ahead with a march on March 22 – despite the eThekwini municipality refusing it permission to do so.

The shack dwellers’ movement has also threatened to take legal action against municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe, who it blames for not being granted a permit to march.

Abahlali spokesman Mnikelo Ndabankulu said Sutcliffe’s office had responded that the city did not have sufficient police officers to provide security at the march.

“If the city does not have enough police to monitor about 20 000 people who will be marching for just four to five hours on one day, how can they say that Durban has enough police and the capacity to protect the whole world for a month when they come for the World Cup?” he asked.

Delay

Ndabankulu said it was common practice for the city to delay its response to Abahlali’s requests to march.

“In 2007, our movement was banned from marching because the city claimed that our organisation was not known.

“We took Sutcliffe and former KwaZulu-Natal transport and community safety and liaison MEC Bheki Cele to court and won the case. If we have to go to court again before marching, we will do so,” he said.

The movement wants to march to call for an investigation into the “double ownership” of RDP houses and for transparency from the municipality in their allocation.

Metro police spokeswoman Joyce Khuzwayo said: “We were informed by the city that all marches should be put on hold for now because they will clash with the city’s preparations for the World Cup.”

The Mercury was unable to get comment from Sutcliffe.

Mercury: Church honours shack dwellers’ leader

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http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5289780

Church honours shack dwellers’ leader

December 17, 2009 Edition 1

GUGU MBONAMBI

S’bu Zikode, president of Abahlali baseMjodolo (shack dwellers’ movement), was honoured at a special awards ceremony yesterday for being a beacon of dignity and hope to shack dwellers.

The Order of the Holy Nativity award was established by the Anglican Church in 2003, and is given to Anglicans who have performed outstanding service to communities in matters of justice and reconciliation. Zikode is the first non-Anglican to receive the award.

The chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council, Anglican Bishop Rubin Phillip, yesterday encouraged Zikode to continue fighting for shack dwellers, despite political interference.

“The award is a way of recognising the good work Abahlali is doing through its leader S’bu Zikode, and we will continue to support the movement,” he said.

Many leaders of the Abahlali movement, including Zikode, were forced to abandon their homes and remain in hiding following a mob attack at the Kennedy Road informal settlement, in Sydenham, Durban, in August. Two men were killed in the attack.

Speaking after the attack, Nigel Gumede, head of the city’s housing and infrastructure committee, accused Zikode and several academics who had aligned themselves with the shack dwellers’ struggle of not having the best interests of the community at heart.

Gumede accused them of thriving on the community’s misery to further their personal agendas.

However, Phillip dispelled all allegations levelled against Zikode, saying he was deeply committed to improving the lives of shack dwellers.

“After the mob attack at the settlement, many of the Abahlali leaders were forced to leave the comfort of their homes and stay in places of safety until the tension dies down,” he said.

“The municipality tried to divide the shack dwellers and now the food distribution programmes and HIV/Aids programmes have all stopped. The Abahlali leaders are also in hiding and there is nobody to look after the interests of the shack dwellers,” he said.

Zikode said the Anglican church’s unwavering support was his source of strength. “Tension at Kennedy Road is still high, but I will continue to work towards improving the lives of the underprivileged.”

Mercury: Shack people plead for help to rebuild lives

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http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4771963

Shack people plead for help to rebuild lives

December 23, 2008 Edition 1

GUGU MBONAMBI

RESIDENTS of the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Clare Estate, Durban, are still waiting for assistance such as blankets, food parcels and building materials so they can rebuild their lives after they lost all their belongings in a fire on Saturday night.

They told The Mercury yesterday that they felt helpless and neglected because nobody from the municipality, including their ward councillor, visited them to assess the damage when about 30 shacks were razed by fire.

On Sunday ward councillor Yacoob Baig promised to provide the nearly 200 people who were left homeless after the blaze with resources.

However, when The Mercury contacted him yesterday he said he was having difficulty getting assistance from various NGOs.

“It is very difficult getting things done, especially since it is the festive season and most people have gone on leave,” he said.

Some had started rebuilding their shacks, while others said they had no choice but to wait for assistance.

Sifiso Ngobe, 40, said after spending Saturday night sleeping outside he withdrew his last cent yesterday morning to buy materials.

“I couldn’t just sit and fold my arms because it doesn’t look like anybody is going to come and assist us. I withdrew R1 180 from the bank so that I could buy poles, corrugated iron sheet and cement. I don’t have a single cent left because I didn’t budget for this to happen,” said Ngobe.

S’bu Zikode, the president of Abahlali baseMjondolo (shack dwellers’ movement), urged the government to provide shack dwellers with basic services while they waited for low-cost houses.

“The government needs to be practical and accept that shack dwellers are a community because tin houses are not a solution. People just need basic provision of services such as electricity, fire hydrants, enough standpipes, waste collection and access route,” said Zikode.

Zikode said people needed to be responsible and stop leaving candles unattended or children on their own.

Khethiwe Vundisa, 44, said she was devastated that nobody had come to help them.

“I’m going to be lonely this Christmas because my children can’t even come to visit me. I have absolutely nothing and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said.

Mercury: Blaze leaves 200 people homeless

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http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4771015

Blaze leaves 200 people homeless

December 22, 2008 Edition 1

GUGU MBONAMBI

DEVASTATED residents of the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Clare Estate, Durban, will not be spending Christmas in their homes after fire gutted nearly 30 shacks at midnight on Saturday.

At least 200 people have been left homeless in the eighth fire in the informal settlement since the beginning of the year.

Residents interviewed by The Mercury said by the time help arrived they had lost all their possessions in the blaze.

Those who went away for the Christmas holidays still have to be told of their loss.

A candle left unattended is suspected to have caused the fire. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Khethiwe Vundisa, 44, said she heard people screaming and when she opened the door she was almost engulfed by flames.

“I managed to escape from the fire, but I was unable to save my belongings. I don’t have food to feed my children this Christmas and nobody has bothered to come and assist us. I don’t even have material to rebuild my home,” she said.

Tyson Dlamini, 30, said he had not slept since midnight when the fire started.

“I heard a loud explosion that sounded like a bomb. When I woke up it was too late and the fire was already here. I’m busy trying to rebuild my shack and haven’t slept since midnight,” said Dlamini.

While the men were busy rebuilding homes for their families, women and children were being sheltered by friends and relatives in the area.

Ward councillor Yacoob Baig said that by the end of today temporary help would have been provided for those affected by the fire.

“I have contacted disaster management to assist those affected with blankets and food parcels. I’ll also speak to various NGOs to assist with material,” said Baig.

S’bu Zikode, the president of Abahlali baseMjondolo (shack dwellers’ movement), said the government needed to fast-track the process of building houses.

“It is frustrating that some of the Kennedy Road residents have lived here for nearly 40 years and the municipality has failed to provide permanent shelter for them or at least install fire hydrants,” he said.