Residents in Heideveld, some of whom have been on the housing list for 40 years, have invaded a veldtjie and set up camp behind Cathkin High School “to try and get the City of Cape Town’s attention”.
For eight days now, backyarders from the area have been sleeping in tents, gazebos and on camp chairs hoping someone will take note of them.
The field is an illegal dumping spot, but desperate residents have cleaned it up for their makeshift squatter camp.
About 100 residents, led by community leader Vanessa Adriaanse, say they want the City to stop ignoring them.
“We watched Siqalo residents last week damaging property. A man was killed and two more were shot,” she says.
“These people have now been allocated a place where they will build homes for them. “Some of Heideveld’s residents have been on the housing list for almost 40 years, but still our community will die out before they get homes.
“We have called and sent emails and letters to our Ward councillor, Anthony Moses. We will stay here until we are heard.”
But Priya Reddy, the Director of Communications for the City, said the mense will have to get in line for a house.
Saying housing beneficiaries are allocated in accordance with the City’s Allocation Policy, she added: “This to ensure that housing opportunities are provided to qualifying applicants in a fair, transparent and equal manner, and to prevent queue-jumping.
“As such, Councillor Anthony Moses was not in charge of allocating the homes on the Heideveld Housing Project or rental units in Heideveld.”
Moses invited the disgruntled residents to come see him at his office or go to the housing office for answers.