ZOLEKA Simandla, a 44-year-old factory worker, has been renting shacks in backyards in Mdantsane most of her life – but would rather live in her one-room shack than move into one of the “plastic” RDP houses the government is offering her community.
Her dilapidated shack in Manyano Tembelihle informal settlement in NU9 is so small it can hardly accommodate her and three children.
Water drips from the roof when it rains and it has neither toilets nor running water.
Despite her desperate situation, Simandla is among the dozens in her community who have rejected a new type of housing that replaces bricks.
“I’d rather die of cold in this shack than live in a plastic house. I don’t want it because I don’t know how long they last. I’ve never heard of a plastic house in my life,” she said.
“We were never told about these types of houses before. We want brick houses, as Mandela promised.”
What started out as a project that could change lives for the better has now divided the Manyano Tembelihle community, with one group against the project and others looking forward to moving into the new houses next year.
At the centre of the controversy is the Imison technology used to build the homes, which gives them a look similar to prefabricated structures.
About 850 Imison houses were to be built for more than 560 indigent beneficiaries in Manyano Tembelihle. The R33million project is a collaboration between Buffalo City Municipality and the provincial Department of Human Settlements.
At its launch in April, attended by BCM’s Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku and the province’s Human Settlements MEC, Nombulelo Mabandla, about 1500 jobs were expected to be created through the project while construction was to be wrapped up by February28, 2011.
However, it is unlikely that deadline will be met as only a sample house was completed in April.
Those who have indicated interest in the houses have been moved to temporary shelters close to Manyano Tembelihle, while the opposing group remains in shacks.
One of the beneficiaries, Vuyiswa Qalani, said misinformation had caused the confusion.
“I’ve lived for 20 years in a shack in Manyano and I want that house because it’s far better than a shack. People must stop being controlled by their egos,” said Qalani.
Afrinaissance Property Developments CEO Siva Govender, who has been hired to build the houses, said it would be impossible to meet the February deadline. “We are waiting for a go- ahead from BCM and the provincial office. At this stage we have not heard from them, but I can vow that these houses are an alternative and stronger than brick houses.
“This thing is about changing the mindset of people, because they have not been informed about the houses,” said Govender.
Lwandile Sicwetsha, spokesperson for Human Settlements, said there were various reasons for the delay. “There were delays relating to the beneficiary list, enrolling the project with NHBRC (National Home Builders’ Registration Council) for quality checks on its completion, but all those have been sorted out now.
“Also, social facilitation to inform and educate people about the technology to be used in building the houses, since we intended to utilise alternative technology,” he said.
Sicwetsha added that the decision to go for the Imison method was largely influenced by the need to address the housing backlog in the province and finding quicker methods than brick structures.
“Those who don’t want alternative technology will get houses built by brick and mortar,” he said.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the community was aware of the houses as they were given a presentation in June. He said the beneficiary registration process had started.
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