Langa housing: it’s separate development all over again

The first group of beneficiaries was supposed to move into the 463 new RDP houses on 24 August 2015, regardless of controversies and conflicts of interests in the project and the broader community.

Our engagement began in September 2013, when we requested the intervention of the City of Cape Town as a result of dissatisfaction with the allocation criteria and the processes followed.

We managed to have a public community meeting the following year, on 7 February 2014.The Mayor’s office was represented by Councillor Thandeka Gqada (Mayco), Sandile Bebe, Onke Vumindaba, Eric Notshisa (Human Settlements) and Sivuyile Mxokezeli (Department of Human Settlements).

The discussion revolved around the position of law-abiding residents who applied, and have proof of application dating back more than 20 years, but are still not prioritised in the controversial housing project. The meeting ended unceremoniously without a clear and simple way forward as the delegation was rushing to another meeting elsewhere. We decided to refer the matter to the office of Public Protector.

In June 2014, we attended a meeting at the Mayor’s office. Present were Mayor Patricia De Lille, Mayco member Siyabulela Mamkeli, Councillor Nophetinle Ngqose of Ward 52, Councillor Mayenzeke Sopaqa of Ward 51, Councillor Brian Watkyns of Ward 53, representatives of the Langa Joint Committee and Sivukile Sonele, representing the concerned residents.

This meeting was subsequent to a meeting held without our representatives, and provided us with the minutes of that meeting. We were given an opportunity to submit our concerns. An agreement was reached that we establish a co-ordinated action team combining the separate community representatives, and that no communication or meeting should take place without both representatives.

Another public community meeting took place in May 2015 at Johnson Ngwevela Hall in Langa. Present in the meeting were Councillor Benecdicta Van Minnen (mayco), Sivuyile Mxokozeli (Human Settlements), Onke Vumindaba, Councillor Watkyns and representatives from the Mayors office.

The councillors acknowledged that there is tension in Langa and promised to engage with the leadership to work out a strategy to address the concerns.

Historically, housing development in the old location last happened in 1983 when the old hostels (zones) were converted into family houses. Langa is a community divided by and during the apartheid era, it is not our creation.

We believe that allocation that is prioritising certain areas (hostel dwellers/informal squatters) contributes to gaps and conflicts of interests between different areas. Human Settlements is using a policy that is perpetrating separate development which we are trying to get rid of.

In spite of the decisive approach by the City of Cape Town, there has been engagement with the Human Settlements since the establishment of Joe Slovo area. In addition, this has resulted into a situation which the old township houses are cramped and you even find a two-room house shared by four generations and backyard dwellers at the back.

The government should learn to fulfill its promises because the very same site where this construction is taking place was a promise made by Premier Helen Zille when she was the Mayor in 2006, to the backyard dwellers. In 2006 the backyard dwellers from the old location occupied the space and were requested to move out in order for houses to be built for them. Afterwards the space was reported not to be suitable for houses, and yet 463 units are developed in the same site.

At present there are two different housing projects under construction and still no mention is made about the position of people who applied to the City for housing more than 20 years years ago.

There is not enough space left for housing development and the government still expects concerned residents to understand and wait. Consultation and involvement only caters for the prioritised, not the broader community. For instance, one prioritised area is two years old. What about people that have red and white cards, official proof of application for housing, for more than 20 years? Is this justice?

These 463 flats are a street away from a sacred area, the initiation site. This five floor construction though irreversible has insulted our community by invading the privacy of the site.

The protest action witnessed during this week is an accumulation of deep frustration, bitterness, dissatisfaction, disappointment brought about by broken promises and an inconsiderate approach by Human Settlements.

The people of Langa have a long history of struggle, and uprising is a last resort

Vusi Mandindi is spokesperson for Sivukile Sonele. Views expressed are not necessarily GroundUp’s.