Clare Estate residents live in fear

PROTESTS at the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Clare Estate erupted on Monday . . . for the fourth time in two months.

Chairman of the Clare Estate Development Forum, Dennis Pillay, said a group of disgruntled shack dwellers demanded formal housing but insisted they kept their make-shift homes.

Pillay believes their aim is to rent out their shacks to earn an income.

At around 2am on Monday tyres were burnt and portable toilets hurled on the roads as a group of informal dwellers ran amok in the area, leaving tax-paying residents reeling.

Pillay said residents were often victims of crime but had grown tired of complaining to the police.

“I got word that they would protest early on Monday. I called the police to inform them on Sunday evening but they did not attempt to quell the situation in Kennedy Road before the violence erupted.”

Ashyn Ravidutt, who works in maintenance at Ushaka Marine World, said he has stayed at Elf Place, adjacent to Kennedy Road, for nine years. “Every time there are protests, I am late for work. My boss understands the situation I find myself in, but I cannot afford for this to jeopardise my job,” said Ravidutt.

He said he had to leave his wife and two young children home alone on Monday when he headed for work.

“I am afraid to leave my family alone and I got a neighbour to keep an eye on them. We never live at ease.”

He has applied to emigrate and is awaiting documentation to be complete. “I bought a firearm in January to protect my home and my family after burglars attempted to rob us.”

He said taxpayers also faced having no electricity. “The shack dwellers find a way to redirect our electricity to their homes. Last week, from Monday to Thursday, we were left with no lights. I can understand that many want better living conditions but they must learn to channel their anger and frustration to the right people.”

Another resident, who lived on Kennedy Road but declined to be named for fear of victimisation, said he had lived in the area for 26 years.

“Living here is unbearable. I was away for the weekend and was returning home on Monday at 10am. I saw the plumes of smoke and portable toilets lying on the road. A colleague was with me and asked if I stayed here.”

He said his sister was at home and similar to Ravidutt, he worried about his family’s safety.

A spokesman for the shack dwellers movement, Abahlali base Mjondolo, was not available to comment.

Police Public Relations said no arrests were made.