The community of Siyanyanzela informal settlement in Lwandle, near Strand, say they’re reluctant to vote in next week’s local government elections as they feel abandoned by government.
The dwellers have accused the provincial and national government of failing to keep its promise to relocate them.
They have been at loggerheads with the authorities over the years after they were evicted and returned three months later on a tract of land they invaded in 2014.
Siyanyanzela informal settlement is situated on a tract of land between a formal housing development in the area.
Locals invaded the land earmarked to upgrade the N2 highway in January 2014.
In June that year, they were evicted and placed in a hall for three months.
Community Leader, Mandla Moyakhe says they have been attending meetings regarding the issue.
“We were evicted and then they moved us back to the same land and they said we are here temporarily. That time we had attorneys by the name of Xulu. We agreed we can stay until they look for the land for us to move to. Since then, we have been going to meetings where they tell us they have found a piece of land in places like Maccassar and Blackheath but people don’t want us there,” says Moyakhe.
Residents are hesitant to vote – citing a lack of political will to address their problems.
“They promised us we will move in nine months, but we didn’t move we are still here. It’s a difficult time. Now we are struggling. We have a lot of kids and its corona time. We don’t feel safe because there is no space,” says one resident.
“People from this area are not interested in voting. They always say your vote is your voice but it’s not our voice. They promise they going to take us in nine months. Those two parties, ANC and DA confuse us because they come make empty promises and they go,” says another resident.
Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements in the City of Cape Town, Malusi Booi says the residents will be relocated in the next 24 months.
“As the City of Cape Town, we have an agreement with SANRAL because they are doing an upgrade in that particular area. Informal settlements that are affected, we then have a relocation plan for them. We have bought some land parcels for permanent relocation for all those affected areas. It’s not only Siyanyanzela but all the people that are sitting on the pipeline we will relocate them,” says Booi.
As reported in the vide below, residents say they want proper houses with basic services including water and electricity:
