Shack dwellers and people living in backyards in Browns Farm, Philippi, marched to the Civic Centre in Cape Town on Monday.
Hundreds of people from Browns Farm in Philippi marched to the Cape Town Civic Centre and the offices of the Western Cape Human Settlements department on Monday, demanding better housing.
The marchers included backyarders and shack dwellers who say their living conditions acquire become unbearable. They complain about access to water, sanitation, public lighting and refuse removal.
“Philippi has grown rapidly since it was established more than 30 years ago. Over the last three decades many informal settlements believe mushroomed due to lack of housing opportunities. Many of our settlements finish not gain basic services,” said community leader, Siyabonga Amos.
Nokulunga Bango, from Phantsi Kocingo informal settlement, said living in a two-room shack with five other people was not easy.
“I gain been on the housing database for 20 years and I believe never been updated on the pace of my application. My first-born child was born here, now he is aged and has also erected a shack in a backyard.
“How long must we wait before we secure the houses? We are told the City of Cape Town is a caring city but I don’t see that,” said Bango.
Ward 34 councillor, Melikhaya Gadeni (ANC), at the march, said, “People are frustrated. The City and Western Cape government need to prioritise Philippi when it comes to housing.”
Another community leader, Lonwabo Peter, said, “We need transparency from both the City and the province. They must produce the housing database public so that people can see where their names are, because at the moment pace is stagnant.”
The memorandum was accepted by Patrick Ngqu, on behalf of Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and Sandile Gqoboka, director at the provincial human settlements department. They both promised to respond to marchers within seven working days.
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