- The Masiphumelele community, where a fire gutted over 1 000 homes, lashed out at the City of Cape Town for only building 851 housing units for affected families.
- Councillor Malusi Booi said the City was working with "verified beneficiaries".
- Masiphumelele residents claim the City provided them with units that are of a poor quality.
The Masiphumelele community has lashed out at the City of Cape Town for not building housing units for all the families left destitute by a fire which gutted more than 1 000 homes in the area.
The City announced last week that it had completed building 851 units for verified Masiphumelele fire victims - a move which upset residents, who claim more than 1 000 homes were destroyed.
Speaking to News24, Masiphumelele community leader Howard Mbana said he was among the first residents who had received a unit, but was unhappy with it.
"These units are, however, unbearable. I received the unit on 15 February, but one can never be fully satisfied because of the quality of these units," he said.
Inadequate
Describing his living conditions, Mbana said he received a two-roomed unit, which was inadequate for him, his wife, and four children.
"These units aren't big enough for the whole family to live comfortably," he said.
According to Mbana, some residents had not received their units, while others were being allocated one-roomed units.
"Some of the people are getting one-room units, but they have children," he said. "How are they going to survive?"
Last December, the City appealed to the public, asking for assistance after the fire ripped through approximately 1 000 dwellings, leaving thousands homeless.
Mayoral committee member for human settlements, Malusi Booi said the City worked with "verified beneficiaries" and the identified heads of households were verified.
"Thus far, 851 units have been built and handed over to the verified beneficiaries," Booi added.
"The City has moved mountains to help the affected people in Masiphumelele despite the challenges."
The City focused on two sites in Masiphumelele, namely the fire site and the sports field site.
However, Mbana said the authorities were not working with them. He said the City built the structures very close to each other, "which is another a high risk".
Booi said their efforts to help the fire victims were delayed due to the conflict between the two parties.
"The project has unfortunately been delayed by violence, intimidation, and even petrol-bomb attacks, but our teams have pushed through to help, especially the many mothers and children, who were affected by the fire," added Booi.