Residents from Imizamo Yethu informal settlement near Hout Bay have served the City of Cape Town with yet another memorandum of grievances. They are demanding proper housing and better living conditions.
Many were left homeless after a fire swept through the informal settlement last year.
Many residents were forced to take refuge at a nearby sports field. The City of Cape Town then proposed what they call “super-blocking” – an innovative way of creating space.
Roads and walkways meander around shacks so that water, electricity and sewerage services can be provided.
But super -blocking is a complicated matter. It involves negotiating with residents to either move or refrain from rebuilding their shacks while the task of reblocking takes place.
However, residents from Dontseyakhe shooting range and Ebhayi say the promise of super-blocking is nothing more than an empty covenant.
“Last year there was a big fire here and people could not rebuild their shacks because of the super-blocking. They said people must not put back their shacks, people will be given new material and new infrastructure – well that was in vain,” says Mzukisi May, community leader.
The matter is now before court as the city and residents continue to disagree. “I cant speak too much about the litigation. But should road 1 be unlocked it would make a huge difference. There are 3 substations there that would be able to electrify the whole of Donsteyakhe and Imizamo Yethu. We would be able to supply the bulk services. Water, sanitation and so on. But we are hoping to find resolution on that road one first,” said Ward Councillor, Roberto Quintas.
With winter fast approaching, residents want the city to make a plan for the area soon with the hope of seeing a difference in the near future.
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