Tensions rise over housing project

This week, tensions spilt over about the building of temporary structures for the displaced Rhawutini fire victims.

On Wednesday, building of the shelters near Luvuyo Lerumo High School in Mlungisi halted when residents from Victoria Park, Aloevale, Newvale (Van), New Rest, Park Vale and Nkwanca informal settlement barricaded Victoria Road with stones and burning tyres.

The protesting residents said they felt excluded after waiting for years for houses and allocation of plots at the disputed site. People we do not know are

“receiving shelters, yet we have been staying here for years,” said Nkwanca resident, Athi Bhebeza.

She said they did not understand how land allocated for the Nkwanca settlement could be used for the fire victims. We want to know who

“qualifies to live in those structures. We hear they are meant for the Rhawutini fire victims, but our shacks have been burning for years yet we still have no houses,” Bhebeza said.

Van residents who had joined the protest said it was unfair for the Rhawutini victims to get homes first, when they had been waiting years for houses years too.

Ursula Redcliff from Park Vale said the shelters aught to have been built where the shacks had burnt down.

Why are they not building

“the structures on that land? Nkwanca residents have been staying here for years and they have not received as much as toilets. They are quick to get them (Rhawutini victims) houses and toilets. It is unfair, said Redcliff.

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The protesters also questioned whether those receiving sites were from Komani.

I am a resident of Komai and I “