No place to go
HOMELESS: Nobongile Gojana lost everything after her shack was demolished by law enforcement officers. Land grabs in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, have turned violent, with invaders burning rubbish on the N2 after a group was chased off land they had illegally occupied.
ABOUT 200 people were left homeless after their structures set up on open land in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, were demolished early yesterday morning.
Ward councillor Danile Khatshwa said the structures were not authorised by the City and had to be demolished.
“The residents were not allowed to erect shacks, thus making their houses illegal. The area where the erected shacks were is not safe at all. That area is a health risk because there are ponds, water issues, electrical cables on the floor and many other risks,” said Khatshwa.
He said he had advised the settlers to take their materials and go “back to where they came from”.
“I told them to go back to where they lived because that land was not safe for them. I understand that the issue of housing is a big one, but it is in their best interest to cooperate with us and move back to where they were.”
Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason said 12 structures were demolished by the housing department.
“Law Enforcement was called out by the housing department to provide protection for the workers who are contracted to demolish the structures. The structures were erected illegally on public open space.”
Phumla Gojana, 36, a shack owner whose home was demolished, was left hopeless because she had just been kicked out of her other shack on Saturday morning.
“They woke me up and told me to gather my furniture because they were going to demolish my house. They did not give me any reason. Instead, they told me to call the department of housing.”
Gojana, who lives with her 59-year-old mother and four-yearold son, said that she felt terrible because they had “nowhere else to go”.
I do not work so I cannot afford another place to live. I was renting at another shack here in Makhaza and was told to find a new place which is why I decided to erect my shack here. We do not know what is going to happen to us that is why I am just sitting on this bed.”