The struggle for RDP houses continues
Residents of Meadowlands are marching for newly built houses in Fleurhof.
Following a meeting that was called by Meadowlands Community Forum that was held at Tshireletso Primary School on May 29 to engage with the community about the interview the forum was going for in regard to the Reconstruction Development Programme (RDP), the community and the forum marched project site in Fleurhof on June 1.
Councilor of Ward 40 Celokuhle Nkosi also attended the gathering.
“Remember that I called a meeting where I invited the people from housing but they didn’t make it.
“But I am trying to invite them to come and address the issue. Because I cannot be answering things I don’t know.
“I am here to listen to your problems not to answer questions,” said Nkosi.
Marchers made their way to Fleurhof to hand in the memorandum to the Ward 70 Councilor Caleb Finn. But when they arrived security was tight Red Ants were waiting for them at the entrance.
The leader of the community forum Sifiso Sithole said that this is the continuation of the RDP liberation.
“We decided to occupy the flats to help our government allocate the houses.
“Calgro is denying us our right and treating us like animals.
“When we march peacefully the director of Calgro deploy Red Ants to attack us,” said Sithole
Sithole said that most of the people residing in Fleurhof flats are not from Soweto and others don’t even have C-forms.
“The issue of housing is serious and we have been engaging all the structures in the government.
“We are restoring the dignity of the community of Meadowlands.
“Today we are not here to fight neither to destroy things,” explain Sithole.
“As loyal citizens, we want to protect the place, people are now vandalizing the empty flats,” said Sithole.
Sithole said the woman who was selected to represent the community but it seems like she is doing the opposite.
“We want Calgro to select a new steering committee,” said Sithole.
A resident at Meadowlands Sarah Phatlane said that she is currently residing at a 4room house with 7 people.
“My husband applied for a house in 1998 but could live to see the struggle for his house because he died before he could live in the house.
“Because what is his is mine am fighting for his house.
“As you know that each and every family has its own family drama my life has been a living hell,” said Phatlane.
Another resident Irvin Moerane said that he is unemployed and has been waiting for his house since 1996.
“I have been making follow ups on my house but I am still on the waiting list.
“The people I applied houses with decided to forget about their houses.
“The new criteria that the government is applying, is not fair at all,” said Moerane.
Moerane allegedly said that people who are occupying these flats are not people from Meadowlands.
“The question I am asking is what about us,” exclaimed Moerane.
Sithole said that he knows that they are just accepting the memorandum but they won’t adhere to it.
“We won’t give up we will always submit our memo to you.
“It is stated in the paper that we are giving you 7 days if you don’t respond within the given period the community will decide which actions to take,” said Sithole.
Both the Councillor Ward 70 and director of Calgro accepted the memorandum signed it in front of the people.
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