WATCH: Zamimpilo residents still disappointed in CoJ
"I believe that COJ is destroying us."
When Mayor Herman Mashaba visited the Informal Settlement of Zamimpilo on January 29, Thulani Mdluli, the chairman of Zamimpilo addressed officials as well as the residents who were there. On the day there were quite a number of activities happening besides the hand over of the ablution facilities.
There were two trucks waiting to move residents to their new homes in Fleurhof, however, there seemed to be a very unsettling atmosphere amongst the residents. When speaking a few residents, they were unhappy that only five families were moving on the day, the residents said that they were promised that more would move and they have been waiting since September last year.
One of the residents also said that they are not happy that they got toilets, she said that it’s better to have a house then a toilet and it looks like the City of Johannesburg (COJ) is not planning on giving all of them houses. The residents were frustrated about the situation.
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The chairman of the committee Thulani Mdluli said in his address to the mayor: “We thank the City of Johannesburg (COJ) and we are aggrieved by COJ. There are residents living here that were promised homes in 2016, they ended up packing all their belongings waiting to be moved to new homes and yet that hasn’t happened even until today. When we enquire, they say its COJ.”
“Who is COJ? A person? It is someone that lives on the taxi ranks like we did or is it these tall buildings? 31 people have been promised homes, today, 11 were supposed to be moved to new homes, they already signed relevant documents to be moved to the flats irrespective of conditions of the flats, the flat owners even agreed.
“Everyone was happy because its better than living in these conditions where rats are destroying all our things and food, and even our chicken livestock is killed by rats.”
“Our kids don’t even have food when they come back home. The City (COJ) has harmed us because they are not fulfilling their housing promises. Last time they promised to take 11 people yet today the trucks that were brought can only accommodate five families.
“An elder was rejected despite his name being on the list. I will speak with passion and anger when I speak of my community because my anger is directed at COJ. Even when we protest, COJ shoots at us,” he said.
The chairman claims that guns are put in their mouths even they want to talk and protest and said that a fellow resident was even shot at the Rea Vaya station without the police even asking why they were there.
“I believe that COJ is destroying us,” he concluded. Ward Councillor Basil Douglas confirmed that it was only the five families who were moved on the day. As living conditions seem to be getting worse in the informal settlement, residents seem to be getting more angry with council.
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