THE continued expansion of informal dwellings at the Malacca Road Informal Settlement was one of the dominant topics at the recent Glenhills Ratepayers Association’s meeting. The meeting by concerned residents was convened by chairperson of the ratepayers association, Robin Candy and ward councillor, Pete Graham with more than 80 residents in attendance.
Candy said residents were at their collective wit’s end in trying to get the City to act over illegal shack dwellings being erected at the settlement.
The City’s Land Invasion Unit had demolished several shacks at the settlement in January this year but Candy said illegal dwellings are still being built.
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“I was surprised by the turnout at the meeting and in large part residents had questions about the expansion of the settlement. Ward councillor, Pete Graham and fellow councillor, Rory Macpherson and myself resolved to get the City to enact their own court order. The order states that no more than 75 shacks be built on the land. The land is also subject to several land claims further and we had one of the land claimants, Robin Naidoo, present on the evening as well.
“We’ve received information that land is being sold at the settlement and that some of the residents are involved including the chairperson. This cannot go on as it in defiance of the City’s court order. A lot of residents were disappointed there was no municipal representatives present at the meeting even though several were invited,” he said.
Candy added the association were still seeking clarity from the City as to what the upgrade plan, proposed last year, actually entails.
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