It’s been almost a year since residents of Hillside were relocated to the Randgate Community Hall after they were promised to be allocated government-subsidised houses at the Dan Tloome Housing Project.
In an exclusive with the Herald, the residents, who are beneficiaries, said what was only supposed to be three weeks became a year-long wait – and they don’t get any answers.
The residents, many of whom also have school-going children said on February 13 this year they were convinced by the former Executive Mayor of Rand Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) Brenda Mahuma to move to the hall temporarily while their houses were being completed.
“We’ve never heard anything from the mayor nor the municipality since then,” resident Joyce Sibiya said, adding that in the meantime, they’ve had to pay R600 to RWCLM with the promise that their houses were being finalised.
Residents had also been issued with letters from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, stating that their subsidised houses had been approved, but what’s fuelling their frustration is that the municipality had sent messages to them, requesting them to pay their rates and taxes.
“We can’t pay for houses we don’t have yet, let alone having seen them,” another resident, Lebogang Letimela said.
At the moment nine family members are squatting at the hall. Those who could afford to leave had left, but those without jobs had no choice but stay there.
“Our children had to write their exams while living in these appalling conditions. We as the residents are even fighting amongst ourselves, simply because it’s very easy to invade the others person’s space; its like we’re in jail,” Sibiya complained, adding their dignity and privacy were compromised.
Sibiya went on to say organisations tried to help but nothing came of it. He said when people follow up on this matter no one came back to them.
Residents said as soon as media or other people followed up on their predicament the municipality acted as if it was a work in progress, and then kept quiet again, leaving them in the dark once more.
“If they give a letter of approval they should also give us keys to our houses. Where are the keys to our homes?”
“We’ve configured the spaces as per families. We use one kitchen and luckily communal showers for men and women are separated but this is not the way to live. By the look of things we might even spend the festive season in this hall since we’ve been dumped here,” Sibiya said.
The Herald has approached RWCLM for comment, who is yet to respond.
