Joe Slovo Park informal settlement between Eldorado Park and Nancefield has become the focal point of the housing crisis currently facing South Africa.
The burning of five shacks at the informal settlement this year alone has left the affected families destitute and highlighted the need for adequate housing and services to be provided to the residents.
Shamina Banda (23) is a resident of the settlement and had the following to say, “Some of our parents have even passed away, we are left behind with our siblings in this mess that the government promised to take us out of.”
“For this year alone we have 5 shacks that have burned down and families have lost their valuable goods in there. They have lost basically their lives because they had to start from over.”
Banda ascribes shack fires to illegal electrical connections and paraffin stoves used by residents to power their appliances.
According to Banda, another shack caught fire on October 8, leaving another family destitute, with valuables such as identity documents, clinic cards, passports and school books consumed by the blaze.
Residents are questioning government’s dedication to their cause and say that nearby Freedom Park was established after Joe Slovo Park, but has been declared a formal settlement before a single house was built at the informal settlement.
Banda said, “Last year November we went to court to request formal housing from the City of Johannesburg and we were informed that we have won but until today we have no proper electricity, no houses and no water.’’
Vivian Tonyane, a shack burning victim, can be heard in the voice note below, detailing her experiences.
https://soundcloud.com/axtonrbanews/vivian-tonyane
“Residents have installed their own taps by scraping money together while others do not have taps in their yards because they cannot afford to contribute.”
Slovo Park residents feel marginalised and are asking how many shacks must burn and how many more lives lost before their voices are heard.
