Blikkiesdorp dad ‘desperate’ for a home

A BLIKKIESDORP father has bemoaned being sent from pillar to post as he tried to get his family a home of their own after being on the city’s housing list for a decade.

Colin Sellar claimed he knew of people as young as 18 who were given houses.

Sellar said he was desperate to get his family a proper home as the health of his nine-month-old son, Colin jr, depended on it.

The baby has viral bronchitis and has had an operation, but his doctor said his condition would not improve, and would deteriorate instead, unless the family got a decent home.

The family of four occupy a shack a mere 4m2 in size.

Sellar said it leaked constantly and was condemned by social workers assigned to the family’s case.

Before being placed in Blikkiesdorp, the family lived in a toilet in Hanover Park, Sellar said.

He added that, while they appreciated the assistance they had been afforded, they were desperate to get a house and be able to help their young child.

Sellar said he wanted answers from the city.

After going to the city’s offices for the past two years, he is still uncertain of the family’s future.

“Every week I go to Cape Town. It seems like they are not interested in what the social workers or doctors have to say.

“I mean all I am worried about is my nine-month-old.”

His wife Lazcka Sellar said it was painful to see her child sick constantly and she was frustrated that they had been so long without a house.

“Before we came here, he was quite fine and it was all-right here before he got sick; but, after he got sick, social workers referred us to the city because they said we can’t live here.”

She said they tried to make it better by making the shack warm for their son, but it hasn’t helped him. The city acknowledged that Sellar had asked for assistance.

Mayco member for Area Central, Siyabulela Mamkeli, said Sellar was told he needed to ensure that his contact details were updated on the housing database, should the city want to contact him.

“Mr Sellar approached the city for assistance when he and his family were residing in a bathroom.

“The city’s informal settlements department then assisted him with temporary accommodation at Blikkiesdorp.”

He added that allocations to housing projects are done in accordance with the city’s allocation policy and the date of application.

“His application date has not yet been reached to be considered for rental assistance and he does not qualify for the Delft housing project as he and his family moved into Blikkiesdorp after the names for the project were extracted for consideration,” Mamkeli said.