'Rebuilding of Imizamo Yethu houses too slow'

Volunteers help residents rebuild after a fire in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. Over 15 000 residents were affected, with about 4 500 shacks gutted by the blaze, in which at least four people died. Picture: EPA

Volunteers help residents rebuild after a fire in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. Over 15 000 residents were affected, with about 4 500 shacks gutted by the blaze, in which at least four people died. Picture: EPA

Published Mar 28, 2017

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Cape Town – Only eight homes have been rebuilt in the City of Cape Town’s re-blocking initiative in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, after a devastating fire that left three people dead, thousands of shacks destroyed and many others homeless.

The eight families have not yet slept in the homes as the City was still busy erecting them. Many of the fire victims currently staying at the local field in tents complain that there is no privacy.

The City announced its plans to re-block the area at a cost of R100 million so that there could be fire-breaks and pedestrian walkways in between the shacks, and demolished the shacks that some residents had erected.

The building material provided by the City includes pine poles, galvanised corrugated roof sheets, a wooden door and framed window and nails. It was estimated that the project would take a maximum of three weeks, but community leaders said it was unlikely that this would happen. 

Electricity would be installed at a later stage.

Community leader Thamsanqa Longo said the fact that only eight shacks had been built in one week suggested that completing the project would take months.

“It’s clear people will be homeless for months – up to six months, judging from how things are going at the moment,” said Longo.

Xolani Maseko said it was clear from the beginning that the project would take time.

“The City must come clean and not lie that the project would take three weeks. It is crystal clear we will be homeless for a very long time.”

Mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services, and energy Xanthea Limberg said the first work to take place would be surveying and marking the main roads and walkways.

Residents not affected by the roads and walkways would be allowed to begin constructing their homes, she said.

Cape Times

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