13 years on … residents still wait for houses
AFTER 13 years, residents of the Isipingo transit camp are still waiting for the houses they were promised.
They have lived in the area without basic services, and as a result, have lost hope in the eThekwini Municipality.
Thulani Danisa is the chairperson of the Isipingo Transit Camp Community Association. He said he had been living in the camp since it was established in 2009.
Danisa said prior to this, he lived in an informal settlement in Umlazi D section, but he and others were moved.
“Our homes were near the King Zwelithini Stadium. The municipality moved us because they wanted to build a sporting facility next to the stadium.”
Danisa, 46, who does odd jobs, said when they were moved to the Isipingo transit camp, they were told it would be for a short period – until the city could build RDP houses.
“We were told we would only be here for six months, but we ended up staying.”
Danisa said there were now about 360 shacks in the transit camp.
“Each shack has about four to five family members. So there are hundreds of us living here.”
He said since they were moved into the camp, they had never had access to electricity.
“We rely on illegal electrical connections to get power in our homes.”
He said the city was supposed to keep the area clean by cutting the grass and clearing the litter and refuse.
“They do not do all of this, and the place ends up looking untidy.”
He said the toilets that were installed were old, and the pipes sometimes burst and caused an unpleasant smell.
Danisa said most of the homes were also old and were slowly deteriorating.
He said they lodged complaints with councillors over the years, but they received no feedback about relocation.
Zandise Nene, who also lives in the transit camp, said he was moved from an informal settlement in Malvern.
“We were told to evacuate our homes to come and live here for six months while the municipality built us proper RDP houses. But we are still here.”
He said they lived near a river, and when the water overflowed, it entered their yards and homes.
“Our household possessions get destroyed, and we also have mud all over.”
Nene, 50, who is unemployed, said after 13 years, he had given up on the promises that were allegedly made to them.
“Most of us do not have full-time jobs, and we cannot afford to get proper houses or move from this area, so we are stuck here until they provide us with the RDP houses they promised us.”
The city did not comment at the time of publication.