South Hills residents don’t want to be moved to Wembley

MMC for Housing Meshack van Wyk visited Northam Court that was on fire on September 18 in South Hills.

The fire claimed no lives but left four families affected. The MMC was there to provide a temporary solution for the affected families. The solution was all affected families of Northam and Jesgrey courts should be placed in emergency units in Wembley Stadium.

ALSO READ: WATCH: South Hills Northam Place Court fire leaves three families stranded

MMC told the COURIER this temporary shift will see these two courts renovated within a period of three months or less.

“It pains me to see residents vulnerable like this. Seeing residents sleeping in the tents, it’s not right. That’s why we are offering them emergency accommodation,” said van Wyk.

While van Wyk was busy talking about the alternative solution, residents shouted saying they won’t move to Wembley Stadium, can they at least be moved to the recently built flats on Nephin Road in South Hills. Van Wyk replied and calmed the residents down by saying, those units have beneficiaries that will be moving in soon.

Lorwa Owden, one of the affected residents at Northam, told van Wyk she won’t move to Wembley.

“I have a child that needs to go to school. How will he get transport from Wembley to here? What we need is an agreement between the residents, MMC and the city within the course of this three months about revamping the affected courts. We, the affected, can rather be housed in those new units in South Hills than Wembley. We can even sign on the dotted line that after the renovations are done we will move back to our courts,” said Owden.

ALSO READ: South Hills fire leaves people homeless

Van Wyk concluded by saying he will set up an emergency meeting with mayor Herman Mashaba to discuss a way forward for South Hills residents.

Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame said, “I will keep checking on the affected families, both Northam and Jesgrey residents. Food and blankets were offered to them which is one of the ways of showing we are with them in this time of trouble.”

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WATCH: Chaos in Nephin Road, South Hills

[VIDEOS + GALLERY]: Angry protesters cause chaos in South Hills

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