Residents still hopeful of receiving houses
Most of the residents who are renting accommodation in flats said they cannot afford the rental as most of them are relying on government grants and piece jobs.
Residents of Ward 17 which covers Marburg, Merlewood, and Hlanganani are still hopeful that one day they will get houses from the Department of Human Settlements.
On Monday this week, some of the residents gathered at the Marburg Library to fill in a database form as required by the housing department in the hopes that their names will be selected for the next housing project, if there is another one, as most of them have been applying since the early 1990s, and have not been housed to date.
Most of the residents who are renting accommodation in flats said they cannot afford the rental, as most of them are relying on government grants and piece jobs.
Gourie Dhookie, aged 69, said she first applied for a house in 1995 and to date has not received one.
“I am a grandmother and I am surviving with a child support grant and a pension. I have been living in a flat most of my life and my current rent is R4000. It is very hard for me to make ends meet as I still have to buy food, pay for electricity and school fees for my grandchildren. I am hoping that after filling these forms a miracle will happen one day that I get a home for myself, my children and grandchildren,” said Dhookie.
Single father of two, Leon Govender who works as a car guard said he is also hopeful.
“Since 1995 I have been trying to get a home with no luck. What is really worrying and sad is that the people who are given houses are those that do not need them. People sometimes get two houses and they rent one out. We do not know how it happens that one person can be on a list of beneficiaries twice while there are people who have never been given a home. It is really unfair and I hope that this time I will be part of those benefiting from this process,” said Govender.
Ward 17 councillor Ajith Rajaram said he was aware that housing is an issue in his ward and since he became councillor, he has been addressing it with the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality and the leadership of the Department of Human Settlements.
“I am also aware that the department has requested that people in need of houses fill in the database forms, however, I cannot be certain that this process guarantees the people homes. What is also sad is that people who do not have homes and are renting are not even benefitting from government grocery hampers. They are really suffering.”
Cllr Rajaram said there are almost 300 families in his ward in need of homes. “I encourage residents to fill in the form so that if anything happens their names are on the database,” Rajaram concluded.
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