Backyard dwellers demand houses

EDEN PARK – A Group of residents, calling themselves ”a concerned community living in backyards”, congregated in Eden Park recently, for feedback concerning a memorandum delivered in August.

This memorandum was delivered to the Department of Human Settlements under the leadership of Saras Freeks, and reflected the concerns and grievances of backyard dwellers, who feel they are being sidelined by the ANC government for which they voted.

The residents also raised their concerns about the 873 housing units currently being built in Eden Park, from which they will not benefit.

They requested the Department of Human Settlements assign 250 of the 873 units to Eden Park’s backyard community.

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“We, as ANC members of Ward 58, went door-to-door to consult all the backyard residents. Since our democracy, we realised that we are the fourth generation who are still struggling with a housing problem,” said Freeks.

“We asked for a meeting with our ward councillor to discuss subsidy applications, but the meeting never took place. We have now sent a letter to Gauteng Premier David Makhura, to meet us as soon as possible.”

Clr Robert Pienaar was consulted by the MAIL, concerning the matter, and he said the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), together with the Department of Human Settlements, had met with and explained to community leaders and committees that the units currently being built are for plots with existing shacks.

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“Residents were advised to register with the Housing Department,” he said.

Xoliswa Mkhalali, of Human Settlement Resources, said the memorandum stated that it had been referred to the MEC for Human Settlement, Jacob Mamabolo, for his attention and response.

She also stated that the houses under construction at present already have people on the stands, as implemented by the EMM.