SCORES of residents from Overport are facing possible eviction from their homes to make way for students.
Last week, the affected residents marched from King Dinizulu park to City Hall, to hand over a memorandum and called on mayor Zandile Gumede to intervene. A petition was signed by 1250 people, consisting of tenants from Syringa Avenue, Westpark Heights, 300 Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street and Kenning Hall, a historic precinct that resisted forced removals during apartheid.
In the memorandum, residents say they want to remind the city of its responsibility to the people and have given the city until 1 April to respond.
“We would like the government to step in and assist us by looking for a solution which will benefit all concerned, as we are being bullied and intimidated to move out of the only homes that we know,” read the memorandum.
Ward 31 councillor, Chris Pappas, who marched in solidarity with the residents said while the Democratic Alliance supports the rights of property owners to use their property within the confines of the the law, it did not support the evictions of families where taxpayers money was being used to finance the new tenants at the expense of vulnerable groups.
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“The student accommodation shortage in eThekwini is a major challenge. However, there is an even larger shortage of social housing and affordable accommodation: especially close to places of work. The DA in eThekwini believes that government is creating an even bigger problem by indirectly funding the eviction of working class and vulnerable residents and replacing them with students. The DA in Johannesburg has successfully implemented an inner city regeneration programme that has seen hundreds of affordable housing opportunities made available. eThekwini municipality has a growing housing shortage but is failing to implement a wider range of housing options for residents,” he said.
Meanwhile, a proposed student village sparked controversy between the city and Manor Gardens residents after the city tabled a report before the full council proposing to establish a King Edward residential and student accommodation precinct extending to a 1km radius of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College. Nationwide, a scramble for student accommodation near universities and colleges ensues around this time each year and, in Durban, property developers are cashing in on the fact that eThekwini Municipality currently does not have a policy on student accommodation zones in residential areas.
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