Newclare residents have for years turned against each other.
“The government was building houses for us [blacks] and then before the houses were finished, the coloureds decided to move in and take the place for themselves,” complains one resident.
Another resident says they applied for houses and most of the houses were being built for the black people.
“We want these houses completed and the illegal coloureds that are staying there to move out,” he says.
“The ANC wants us to vote for them yet they do not do anything for us,” complains the resident who wishes to remain anonymous.
According to another resident Paul Kruger, the rivalry has been running for over four years.
“The government said they are building house but for years nothing happened so we decided to move in and fix what they had started ourselves, but because of that some blacks are not happy and they claim we moved into their houses which is not true,” comments Kruger.
“My baby has been threatened…the blacks and us[coloureds] have been having a rivalry because of this thing. They have no right to come and say we moved into houses that were meant for them because we worked and fixed the place, made sure there is water and built the place,” he adds.
According to Kruger, the houses were built for coloureds.
“I am not from Eastern Cape, I was born here…the reason why I moved into that house is because I didn’t have a place to stay…now after I finish building they come and say it is their houses…” he comments.
Daniela Thompson, who is also an occupant of one of the houses, says she will not move out.
“I had to basically build the place, fix it up, put running water and turn it into a home. No one can then come and tell me to move, these blacks are crazy,” she says.
Ward 82 councillor Susan Stewart says there might be more protests when the houses are finally complete.
“There are three lists and I don’t know which list was the first and I haven’t even see the lists, when the time to give out houses comes there might be a lot of fighting because who is supposed to get which house,” she explains.
Stewart also mentioned that she told the illegal occupants of the houses that they will be soon be removed from the properties.
These concerns were raised during a Newclare protest that turned into riot. There was a lot of stone throwing and the Newclare Train Station was set on fire.
Sophiatown Police Station spokesperson TJ de Bruyn says, “When the protest started, the police came and dispersed the crowd with rubber bullets, protestors moved to Claremont were they were also dispersed.”
Several arrests have been made.
