Residents in limbo over move
Refused access to crucial documents
ABOUT1 000 residents of Plumstead’s Naruna Estate, who have been fighting to stay in homes they have lived in for decades, have been refused access to documents they believe will help them understand the decision for their relocation.
Last year, tenants were told by the provincial Department of Human Settlements that those with an income of below R3 500 a month would have to move to Pelican Park and that any arrears they had would be scrapped.
They were also told they would receive a new subsidised house.
But the residents don’t want to move. They say Pelican Park would be a huge step down from Plumstead which is safe and close to schools, shops and medical facilities.
Karen Saligee, the chairwoman of the Naruna Estate Residents’ Association, said they, with the help of activist organisation Ndifuna Ukwazi, requested documents relating to the department’s revised rental strategy and the relocation proposal under the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
But the department turned down the request, saying the reason was for “mandatory protection of certain confidential information”. The department said it could view the documents, but could not make copies and would have to be monitored while viewing it.
Ndifuna Ukwazi researcher Shaun Russell told the Cape Argus they planned to appeal. He said the Naruna Estate tenants would not be able to engage in a public participation process if they didn’t have access to the information.
However, Zalisile Mbali, spokesman for Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela, said the department was “busy packaging not only the Revised Rental Strategy, but other documents which will be distributed to the tenants prior to the public participation engagement”.
He said Madikizela was still committed to a public participation process and the tentative date would be communicated to the committee soon.
“The plan was for those tenants who can’t afford to pay their monthly rental and meet the criteria in terms of government subsidy houses to be offered a permanent ownership in one of our developments, such as Pelican Park.”
But Saligee has accused the department of “economic segregation”.
Naruna Estate, which comprises 164 units, is owned by the Department of Human Settlements. Most residents are elderly, some are disabled.
Resident Beverley Strong said people were stressed by the prospect of losing their homes. Saligee said tenants feared being forced to move to Pelican Park, an area with high crime and little infrastructure, simply because of their income.