A few backyard dwellers who have refused to budge from a field which hundreds of backyarders invaded in Tafelsig last week are rallying together and helping one another survive.
Last Sunday hundreds of backyarders from Mitchells Plain built shelters on the field, which the city wants for formal housing.
Police and members of the city’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit forced them off the field they called New Horizons.
Last week the city was granted an interdict from the Western Cape High Court preventing the residents from building on the field..
On Sunday only two wendy houses still stood at New Horizons and only a few groups of backyarders were staying on.
Lenaise Titus said the anti-land invasion unit had not demolished her home as it was completely built and fully furnished.
“They told me I now have until June 1 to leave.”
Titus said at least 10 backyarders were living in her home.
“We’re looking after 20 more people. With the little that we’ve got we’re helping as many people as we can,” she said.
“We put up a tent for these people at night, but have to take it down early in the morning in case the anti-land people come and remove it. We’re getting fresh water from the residents with houses. It isn’t really enough, but we’re getting by,” Titus said.
Carmelita Oncke lay in the centre of a big tyre, a duvet covering her for warmth.
“We have to wake up so early in case the law enforcement people come and take the tent,” Oncke said.
On Sunday mayor designate Patricia de Lille was reluctant to speak before she had been sworn in as mayor.
She said she hoped a pilot project in Langa and Hanover Park, where backyarders were put on a register, would be rolled out in other areas.
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