Keys to their homes still missing for 108 District Six claimants

NOT one of the 108 District Six claimants who were allocated houses in the third phase of the District Six Redevelopment Project have received a key or a clear date on when they could move in.

This despite Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza last month announcing that the process of returning to District Six for the 108 claimants would take place from June 24 to July 16.

Approached for comment on the reason for the delay yesterday, Department spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo said he was not aware of a delay.

When referred back to the dates the Department had mentioned and further probed, Ngcobo did not respond.

However, the family of the oldest living land claimant, Shariefa Khan, who turned 100 this year, said when they approached the land claims office last week for the key, they were told officials did not know when they would get it.

“When we viewed in June – the first viewing – we were told we would have to wait until July 14 to move in, but we never heard anything. So we went to the restitution office and they told us they did not know when we would get the keys.

“We don't even want my mom to know so we don't let her speak to anyone. We just keep quiet because we can already see she is becoming despondent because she's going into a quiet mode. We don't want to upset her any further because she has been so excited to move back. It is very frustrating for us,” Shariefa's 68-year-old daughter, Nadiema Khan said.

The District 6 Working Committee (D6WC) said there were still many challenges with the process.

“The list of all successful claimants has still not been made available. The Department has not yet responded to everyone who applied.

“So many people still don't know if they were successful or unsuccessful and why or why not,” D6WC spokesperson, Karen Breytenbach, said.

“Then many of the units the elderly have been allocated are not entirely disabled-friendly. In the case of Mrs Khan, the unit is fitted with a bath which is not suitable for her because she is in a wheelchair.

“She was told by the Land Claims office that she will have to replace the bath with a disabled-friendly shower at her own expense.

“Her family will also have to fit the unit with burglar bars at their own cost.”