Community creates lovely homes from a white elephant

Political divide set aside as housing becomes priority

The Shalimar Ridge Housing Project that has cost ratepayers millions of rands over the years is finally being put to good use after members of the community took it upon themselves to start repairing the white elephant that has been subjected to acts of vandalism.

On March 28 scores of disgruntled residents, who have lost hope of government fulfilling its promise of providing the basic human right of housing, started to occupy the 144 forgotten units situated on the outskirts of Heidelberg.

 
On April 5, Lesedi Local Municipalty (LLM) brought an urgent application to the High Court to have the unlawful invaders removed. A private lawyer who is helping the community members pro bono contested this application.

 
The community then met with LLM on April 18 at Heidelberg Town Hall to discuss a way forward. This was a closed meeting, but from what HERAUT understands, an agreement was reached that LLM would call a special council meeting to relax the application they made in court.

“The meeting went well. The law of general practice and mutual understanding led to a good decision that was made on the day,” a reliable source revealed to the newspaper.

The order gave the invaders until April 19 to vacate the premises. Failure to do so would have resulted in forced evictions on Monday (April 22).  At the time of going to print, it was unclear whether the flats were vacated or whether the residents remained in their new homes.

 
 Community takes pride in their new homes

While the battle over their future raged in court and behind closed doors, the new occupants of the Shalimar Ridge Housing Project rolled up their sleeves and started to do some much needed repairs to the flats.

 
Grass was cut at sections of the communal areas that, prior to the occupation, resembled a jungle.

 
Broken windows were repaired. Drain pipes that were ripped from the walls were repaired or replaced while the responsibility of securing the property (a job which used to cost ratepayers up to R70 000 each month) became their own responsibility.

 
As for the interiors of the apartments, the units that were not stripped of all valuable items have become well kept homes. Many of the flats are now decorated with beautiful curtains, couches, carpets and in some cases laminate flooring was installed.

With no running water or electricity, residents have to carry buckets of water up the staircases and are resorting to gas stoves for their cooking needs. Although scared of what the future may hold, a sense of community has been established at the flats with residents going the extra mile to look out for one another.

 
So much so that political lines are irrelevant as ANC, EFF and DA supporters put their differences aside as they are all just seeking a better life – one government has seemingly failed to provide them.

 Only way out for some

For nine-year-old Khanyisile Tshabalala and her mother Nomvula, their new two bedroom apartment on the second floor is like a dream come true.
Nomvula said that her friends let her know of the chance that they could move into an apartment and she rushed there from the dilapidated room they lived in, in Extension 23.

 “I receive a R600 grant every month on which we have to survive. The room I rented in Extension 23 cost R450 each month, leaving me with no means to take care of my child,” said Nomvula.

What further complicated matters for the 43-year-old mother is that Khanyisile is both mentally and physically disabled, which means she needs someone to take care of her 24/7 – thus ruling out Nomvula’s chance to find a job.

“My daughter is happy now. She has a roof over her head and we have more money to buy food.”

 

Asked what they would do if they were forced to leave their new home, Nomvula said that they would have to seek refuge at a family member as the place they stayed in is no longer available.

Also read: Lesedi to decide fate of community of underprivileged land occupiers

Nomvula picked out the second floor apartment for security reasons, but insisted that her new community never hesitates to help her when Khanyisile needs to be moved downstairs.

“We feel safe, the people here care. We can only hope the mayor has a good heart and allows us to stay.”

The Shalimar Ridge Housing Project, a project that commenced 14 years ago, was supposed to be completed in in 2017 yet to this day there is no clarity when it will be done and, more importantly, who will be the beneficiaries once it is finally completed.

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