Land offer comes with a catch

It seems the possible threat of flooding is not enough to convince Riverside residents to leave their homes.

Ward 10 councillor Andy Jordan has offered them land on the outskirts of Malabar to occupy, as their existing homes are built on a floodplain.

However, residents will be required to use their own materials to build new shacks – something they say they are not able to afford.

Residents have been living illegally on the municipalowned land, opposite the quarry, for more than 20 years.

Jordan said the plan to move them was for their own safety and wellbeing.

“We have been trying for years to get residents to move, but the locations we offered were too far.

“The officials decided there is an opportunity for them as a group to move up to Malabar – it is not too far from where they currently are,” Jordan said.

“[They] will get free land, free services, free transport to get [their] stuff there, and a social worker who will help get the children into schools.

“What the municipality does not provide is material – what we want is for them to break down what they have and rebuild it on the land.”

Riverside resident Louise Booysen said she was happy to co-operate with the officials.

“There is no money for housing right now, so I am OK with living in another shack in a better place until money is available.”

Other residents, like Samson Jafta, are not eager to move unless new homes are built for them.

“We can’t move from one shack to another,” Jafta said.