Furore over new housing project in Wentworth
The proposal to build 500 new houses on the site has raised concerns among those affected by the earlier displacement.
RESIDENTS who were relocated from the barracks to flats in Wentworth in 2010 are demanding clarification from the eThekwini Municipality regarding a new housing project slated for the site of their former homes.
This development comes in the wake of a proposal to construct 500 new houses on the barracks site near Engen, where many of the displaced individuals were previously evicted.
Also read: eThekwini approves social housing project for Wentworth
Community meeting held to address grievances
At a recent community meeting, residents expressed their frustration following an announcement made by the Ward 68 councillor, Aubrey Snyman.
Allan Holmes, a community representative, conveyed the group’s dissatisfaction, noting that while people were relocated from the barracks, the new development excludes them from being beneficiaries.
Holmes said that despite numerous complaints raised about inhumane conditions in their current accommodations, the proposed development appears to perpetuate existing inequalities.
The residents said that those who were displaced continue to endure substandard living conditions while others stand to gain from the new project.
They are calling for an investigation and their inclusion in the development plans to address their concerns.
“How can the authorities so brazenly ignore our complaints? We expected that our needs would be prioritised in any new housing developments, given the deplorable state of the flats we currently inhabit,” said Holmes.
The flats, situated at the corner of Lansdowne and Silvertree roads, were part of a joint venture housing project between the eThekwini Municipality and the KZN Human Settlements Department.
The community has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating conditions of their homes, with one major issue being the use of substandard materials in the construction of these flats.
In response to the situation, the KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements has allocated a R3.5 billion budget for the 2024/25 financial year to address the poor living conditions in both rural houses and neglected flat dwellings.
During a recent budget speech, MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, acknowledged that the KZN government is aware of historical practices that led to the division of populations along ethnic lines.
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