Residents clash over housing

RESIDENTS of the New Horizon development near Pelican Park clashed with their neighbours from Phumlani Village informal settlement during a violent protest which saw a petrol station torched yesterday.

Hundreds of residents from Phumelela Village, Jim se Bos and Riemvasmaak informal settlements near Strandfontein brought the area to a standstill when they barricaded both ends of Old Strandfontein Road with burning tyres and stones. They were protesting for housing and other basic services.

Cars were also attacked. Two people were arrested.

The two groups threw rocks at each other and brandished weapons before police intervened.

Phumlani Village community leader Sidwell Kweba said the RDP houses in the New Horizon development were occupied by residents not originally from Pelican Park.

“They come from Gugulethu, Parkwood and other areas while we who live here (and) are on the waiting list are overlooked. We feel betrayed and abandoned by our ward councillor and this city,” said Kweba.

Phumlani Civic Association chairperson Peter Mgutyanasaid they condemned the rogue elements who took advantage of the protest.

“A key issue is the corruption in the allocation of housing in Pelican Park coupled with the exclusion of people from our area, even though they have also been on the waiting list for several years. Other concerns relate to sanitation and lack of employment opportunities,” he said.

The community met city officials but were enraged and refused to listen to them.

Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Mayoral committee member for Area South Eddie Andrews said the city respected the right of residents to protest, but this should be done peacefully. He condemned the violence.

“The Pelican Park housing development (New Horizons) is an integrated, mixed-use housing development involving the city, the Western Cape government and the developer, Power Construction. Beneficiaries are selected in accordance with the City of Cape Town’s Allocation Policy and surrounding areas were targeted when considering beneficiaries,” said Andrews.

He said 60% of the beneficiaries for the development came from within Ward 18.

The city’s sub-council representative, Shaken Rossouw, said officials would engage with community leaders.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said police were monitoring the situation and arrested two men aged 22 and 42.dominic.adriaanse@inl.co.za

Picture: DAVID RITCHIE UNDER CONTROL: Phumlani Village residents went on the rampage, blockading roads and attacking shops in the area. Residents of a neighbouring area clashed with protesters as they attempted to protect their area from them. Two people were arrested after...