The
- Elderly people from
Burundi informal settlement in Mfuleni say theCity of Cape Town is failing to include them in new housing projects. - The City says qualifying beneficiaries have been "objectively assessed" in a fair and independent process, which included a community steering committee.
- A squabble over lists and a blame game between different community leaders and the local councillor has muddied the process of allocating plots.
Elderly people living at
Last year, more than 1,043 beneficiaries benefitted from the
The City is currently creating another serviced area, called
Helen Poswayo, 67, said, "I have been staying here since 1991 ... There was nothing ... We cut trees and removed big stumps to build our shacks."
"Government must fulfil their promises. They bring new housing projects but exclude us old people."
"I registered on the housing list in 2002. We don't know what is happening because people who registered same time as me up to 2005 have not been allocated houses or serviced plots."
"They draw from their database people registered between 2013 and 2017."
Nozimba Dora Zakariya, 55 said, "I have registered in the 1990s. When I came here, my last child was 14 years old; now she is 33 years old.
"I was never allocated a house ... When I came here I was young. It was still a bush and only a few people lived here."
"The first project was Bardale. I was here when others moved. The government built flats around Mflueni; I didn't benefit. Now there is
"Young and new people not from this area got serviced plots at
"Look at the room where I sleep. I have to put containers everywhere to catch water. The carpets are always wet and rain damages my cupboards. I spend most nights scooping water," she said.
Community leader Ayanda Mteto blamed Councillor
"I blocked the issuance of letters to
But Councillor Madikane told GroundUp that the old community leaders "want to control the list".
"They block the process of issuing the letters to the same people they verify with the officials," he said.
Madikane said the community had participated, and the process of allocation "went well".
"Now they're trying to shift the blame," he said.
Community leader Nomntu Tongo backed the councillor, saying Mteto was part of the old committee and should not be imposing himself.
"He is to blame for the confusion that caused exclusion of the elderly people from both
"The councillor is actually helping a lot in
Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements
The
"Qualifying beneficiaries have been objectively assessed in terms of the
Vos said when planning the
"
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