A recent meeting in Shallcross saw residents express their frustrations over inadequate housing and community infrastructure. The meeting was held adjacent to where houses will be built for flood victims.
Image: Supplied
In a display of community solidarity, approximately 500 Shallcross residents gathered on Saturday for a meeting focused on the controversial housing developments proposed for their area.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements intends to construct 85 permanent houses for April 2022 and recent flood victims.
The residents, many of whom have waited decades—some up to 35 years—for adequate housing solutions, voiced their frustrations.
A recent meeting in Shallcross saw residents express their frustrations over inadequate housing and community infrastructure. The meeting was held adjacent to where houses will be built for flood victims.
Image: Supplied
Shallcross meeting
“People are just not happy. They feel as if they’ve been targeted,” said community activist Marcus Richards.
They said, “We’re not saying don’t build houses for any person whatsoever”.
Richards said many residents were still waiting for housing for the past 30-35 years and nothing has been done for them.
"The current flats need renovation as the asbestos roofs, installed 60 years ago by the apartheid government, leak and cause mould. Two seniors have died of mould infections in the past two months.
"The parks are the only places left where people practice their religion, children play, and pupils wait for taxis. They are not harmed in any way."
Shallcross High School has 99% black African pupils, Richards explained. The pupils have not experienced any racial tension or interference while walking in the area.
“So there’s no such thing as racial tensions in the area,” Richards stated.
He also said the area had four informal settlements. They know and interact with the indunas (headmen). During the floods and looting, they gave bread, food, water and medical treatment because there was no help from the government.
“My team and I rebuilt the Hans Dettman and the Blundell bridges at our own cost with the people from the informal settlement helping us,” Richards said.
“So where they get this idea from to come to build houses in the only remaining open spaces, it is counterproductive to what is currently happening.”
He said Sunday marked 10 days that Shallcross was without water in the taps.
“Where are they going to get water from to supply the extra residents?” he asked.
Richards said their infrastructure has failed, sewage is running into the rivers and roads in all areas are in a terrible state.
“How is this all going to happen? It’s something that they haven’t sat down and properly thought out.
“There was no proper dialogue and consultation with stakeholders,” Richards said.
“So it’s going to be a nightmare of proportions if they start this development.”
A recent meeting in Shallcross saw residents express their frustrations over inadequate housing and community infrastructure. The meeting was held adjacent to where houses will be built for flood victims.
Image: Supplied
Human settlements have maintained that pre-screening of these properties informed the decision to use them for housing development.
A professional team was appointed to conduct detailed studies of the properties, prepare town planning application packages and submit them to the local authority for review and approval per the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act. They also undertook an environmental impact assessment and Water Use License Applications.
“It must be noted that these statutory processes, which include public participation processes, were adhered to and resulted in the department obtaining approvals for the proposed developments,” MEC Siboniso Duma said recently.
Gunshots in Shallcross
Addressing gunshots fired when the department was in Shallcross last Monday, Richards stated: “It’s a known drug and gang area.”
“Normally what they do, they fire their guns into the ground. The reason is that my team and I are well-known for fighting this scourge in our area. So they tried to make their presence known to us too. My team and I were present that morning,” Richards continued.
“So they were directed more to us than to human settlements, for a better description. It happens sporadically all the time. It’s a daily occurrence at night, during the afternoon, these guys just do that because they’ve got nothing better to do. Half the time they’re high on drugs.”
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za