While the City of Cape Town is pleased with the progress made at the R45 million Pooke se Bos infill housing project, some residents are not too excited about it, as the future homes of 20 families are uncertain.
According to the City, this development will provide 135 affordable housing opportunities, but 20 families were told they do not qualify to be beneficiaries of this project.
The City’s mayoral committee member for human settlements, Malusi Booi, said unlike other low cost housing developments, “this is a special City project which will see opportunities being provided (exclusively) for the poor residents of the existing Pooke se Bos informal settlement”.
Pooke se Bos community leader, Mieta Blom, 58, has been living at the informal settlement since 1984, and became community leader in 1995. She has been a forerunner in this community’s appeal for housing for many years.
Among the concerns is the size of the houses, as it would be too small to accommodate some families, as well as some of their furniture. All of the houses are two-bedroomed, and the main bedroom can only accommodate a single bed, while the other bedroom is even smaller. A standard, modest lounge suit is too big for the lounge. At best, only a two-seater would fit.
“On the surface people are happy that they will finally be getting houses, but we are not happy with the size of the houses. It is really matchboxes. There are many here with big families. Our people are desperate, but I feel they pulled the wool over our eyes,” Ms Blom said.
Ms Blom said she was “sick with worry” for her fellow residents.
“My heart is aching. I am not happy. For one, the ground for this whole project had to be bigger, according to the original plan. They promised us a yard, but there is no space for a yard. They also promised us a rent-to-buy option for those who earn more than the R3 500 threshold, but this is not an option now. Some people gave up their jobs in order to qualify. There are some older people who have already passed on, but now their children are being told they do not qualify because they are under 30 years old. We have fought long and hard for housing. We were also asked not to allow the informal settlement to grow bigger, and we did not allow anyone to make their homes here, besides the 135 families who have been living here for years,” she said.
Vandelena Smith, 52, is also “very unhappy”, as she too, does not qualify for housing as her husband, who only works on contract, earns more than R3 500 a month.
Ms Smith was told she needs to move from her informal dwelling by the end of the month, as her home is situated where a road needs to be built.
“We were told once the development reaches near us, then we must break down our structure and move into a neighbour’s shack (when that family moves into their house). Ek is baie ontevrede. I have been living here since I was in primary school. My mother passed on 22 years ago. My husband does not have a permanent job, he only works on contract. I have been on the housing waiting list since 2003. I can’t walk into a bank and get a bond. I have been sick for a few days now. I have trust issues, so I will not move from my current home,” Ms Smith said.
Lauren Africa, 24, said they were initially told that there would be no criteria when it comes to age.
“It is unfair. Some of us quit our jobs, because we earned more than R3 500. Now we sit without jobs, only to be told that we are too young to qualify for this housing project. We have to be 30 years old. Now there are unconfirmed talks about providing the 20 families who did not qualify, with serviced plots. We are a total of 11 families who are under the age of 30, but if we agree for the serviced plots, there is no guarantee that we will be getting houses in the future,” Ms Africa said.
Janet Louw, 28 and Felisity Philander, 28, have lived in Pooke se Bos all their lives. They are both married with children, but because of their age, they too, do not qualify. Both Ms Philander’s parents have died.
“When I opened my eyes as a newborn, I was here. I have lived here all my life. I have nowhere else to go. I don’t think the City is treating people like Janet and I fairly,” Ms Philander said.
The project is expected to be completed by April next year.
Ward 46 councillor, Aslam Cassiem, said serviced plots are available for those who are under 30 years of age. He added that some of these young people’s parents qualified for this housing development.
The project, which includes the design, is a joint initiative between the City and provincial government Mr Cassiem said.
