Fury over allocation of low-cost homes
EMOTIONS ran high in Grahamstown yesterday when more than 100 angry residents gathered at a township building site demanding low-cost government housing.
National Arts Festival visitors were unaware of the protest a few kilometres away in Paphamani where people were demanding to know why they had originally been listed for housing only to be ignored on a revised list.
Unemployed Peoples Movement (UPM) leader Ayanda Kota warned that work would grind to a halt at the site unless Makana mayor Zamuxolo Peter, councillors, the construction company and other players met residents today with explanations.
UPM had hoped to meet municipal leaders yesterday, but as it did not happen they extended the deadline by 24 hours.
“The process has not been transparent and many people are living in limbo,” Kota said.
“Tomorrow is their last chance ... if they do not come and talk, construction will stop.”
Paphamani was the scene of running battles between riot police, residents and UPM supporters a few years ago when service delivery protests turned violent.
UPM organiser Xola Mali said they were furious at the re-allocation of the Extension 10 houses, allegedly to “friends and comrades”.
Over 100 people had lost their places on the list, including elderly people who had been on it for many years, he added.
Protester Thandolwethu Landu said his mother Zoliswa had been on the original list but was not on the second one. There were 28 people living on one stand who were desperate for their own place.
Attempts to get comment from municipal spokesman Mncedisi Boma failed. —