A local councillor has called for a housing tribunal to be established to tackle the housing woes of Alexandra.
This was prompted by a huge housing demand, mushrooming of shacks and theft of electricity, water and other services by shack dwellers.
Councillor Monde Mbingeleli said the housing demand in Alexandra will only be resolved through spatial development plans. These plans would include physical and social needs together with enforcement of related bylaws. Mbingeleli said the demand for housing was increasing daily and new shacks were being developed, forcing the authorities to react to the demand for news houses. “As long as authority does not enforce bylaws on informal structures in zoned areas, and without control, this will be a never ending challenge.
Mbingeleli said the authorities were also challenged by laws which prohibit the eviction of shack dwellers without offering them alternative temporary accommodation. “The shack dwellers take advantage of this to build wherever they want with the hope of getting into the housing waiting list. He added that whenever they relocate or received new houses, they [shack owners] rented their informal structures making it difficult for authorities to destroy the houses without offering shelter to the shack’s tenants.
He said this complex housing challenge was left to councillors to resolve, but their powers and roles limited them from intervening. “There is a need for a collective strategy to resolve the housing problems which will involve relevant departments, bylaw enforcement agencies, councillors and the residents’ association.”
Mbingeleli also lamented the mushrooming of organisations which were mostly interested in financial gain from new developments taking place in the area. “Most of them do not play an active role in platforms that deal with local problems like housing and other social challenges.”
He said they only sought help from councillors or blamed them whenever they experienced problems and when they couldn’t be assisted because of the councillors’ limited powers. He concluded saying a tribunal will investigate all housing and other social issues and will recommend remedial measures which will empower councillors on how to deal with housing problems.
Details: Councillor Monde Mbingeleli;
