Department of Housing delivers to KwaMai-Mai
Joburg Water delivered on its promise and fours taps were installed on July 1.
Residents in the KwaMai-Mai informal settlement are turning over a new leaf after years of suffering terrible living conditions.
After a site visit of fact-finding by the Department of Housing on March 7, the department committed to offering assistance to the residents of KwaMai-Mai.
The visit was in response to a number of letters written to the Department of Housing and a petition which was submitted to the city’s petitions committee, asking for City of Joburg to intervene and assist the residents of KwaMai-Mai.
The department responded and promised to get all the relevant departments that were needed to come on board to assist with a number of issues that faced KwaMai-Mai.
The stakeholders included Joburg Water, to drain the water in the old factory and unblock the drains, to provide chemical toilets as temporary measure and also to provide water taps since there is only one tap servicing the whole settlement.
Emergency Management Services will supply fire fighting equipment and a fire plan, while City Parks will cut the blue gum trees that are posing a risk to the informal settlement’s structures.
Joburg Water delivered on its promise and fours taps were installed on July 1.
Fifteen toilets were delivered during the last week of June and six dustbins were delivered to be utilised while they await the delivery of skip bins.
Mr Thulani Thungo, the chairperson of the KwaMai-Mai committee, said the residents are happy to see action.
“We are pleased so see action taking place. We have been asking for assistance for so long but with no luck. This time they made a promise to come back and help and they have delivered. Even though it’s not all of the promises – it is a sign of commitment,” said Mr Thungo.
The Emergency Management Services has not yet delivered and the trees are still to be cut.
Moving residents to permanent accommodation is still to be dealt with.
“The city’s plan is to move the residents from shacks to permanent residences. The city is looking at various pieces of land and other buildings in and around the Inner City to accommodate the community of the KwaMai-Mai informal settlement,” said MS Bubu Xuba, from the housing department.
Furthermore, Ms Xuba said details of these sites cannot be divulged at this stage due to the fear of possible invasions.
Clr Bongani Nkwanyana was among the people who were pleased to see the department delivering on its promises.
“We have been fighting this battle for so long. At some point we lost hope because we have been writing letters asking for assistance. To see the department of housing deliver on their promises, made me happy,” said Clr Nkwanyana.
The Department of Housing said the relocation project is still in the planning stages and it will depend on the outcome of the feasibility study as to how long the processes to relocate will take.
The settlement has been in existence for more than 10 years.
