Protesters rip doors off new RDP houses
A HOUSING construction project in Buffalo City Metro worth millions came to a standstill yesterday after angry people took to the streets and broke into unoccupied RDP houses.
Residents from Ndancama informal settlement yesterday burnt tyres and piled rubble to protest against an “unfair” housing allocation process.
Protesters, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said they were angry that other shack dwellers from Phola Park informal settlement in Scenery Park were being allocated houses while they remained without RDP houses.
The ward councillor in the area, Roseline Vitbooi, said she was informed that the protesters broke down doors in RDP houses that were ready for occupation by their rightful owners.
The new houses are located near Scenery Park township.
Protesters yesterday blocked the Buffalo Pass road and entry into the new settlement with burning tyres and bricks.
Entry to the construction site was also blocked.
Vitbooi said the protest had delayed the relocation of beneficiaries from Phola Park, who were supposed to have moved into their houses yesterday.
“I’m still shocked because we had an agreement with them last week that we would have a meeting with their old councillor and new housing portfolio head to resolve this matter,” said Vitbooi.
“There are about 40 families who were removed when the houses were built. They claim that their ward councillor said they should wait and something would be organised for them but those people are not beneficiaries – they are not even registered to receive houses,” Vitbooi said.
Asked if BCM was planning to build houses for the protesting shack dwellers, Vitbooi, said it was not yet clear what would happen to them.
A disappointed RDP house beneficiary, Nomalungelo Mapisa, who was due to move into her new home yesterday, said: “I’m very disappointed. Nothing has been communicated to us by the municipality concerning our move”.
East London police spokeswoman Warrant Office Hazel Mqala said no arrests were made following the protest yesterday.
“The Public Order Policing (POP) Unit was dispatched to the crowd and addressed the residents.
“After that address the residents then peacefully dispersed,” Mqala said, adding that no case of theft had been opened with the police.
When the Dispatch visited the area yesterday about 20 doors were missing from the houses. —