People attempting to occupy new land in Philippi East protested as they encountered cops yesterday. Photo by Nombulelo Damba.
23 April 2015
Residents of the informal settlement in Philippi East (named Marikana by residents, after the massacre in Marikana, the platinum mining town) attempted to erect shacks next to the Stock Road Train Station yesterday, but were prevented from doing so by police. Nevertheless residents have promised to try again.
The group of about 60 people from Island, Marikana and KTC accused the City of Cape Town of not developing their areas. Some said they have been living as backyarders since 1991.
There was a small clash between police and residents. The residents at first refused to disperse when police ordered them to leave. The residents instead sang struggle songs.
But after a few minutes, the residents dispersed and held a meeting where a decision was taken to let the police leave so they could start again.
A community leader told residents that they must come with material so they can build houses at night. “We must make sure that we clean this place so we can build our shacks at night. When police come tomorrow they must find this place with shacks,” he said addressing the residents.
Joseph Makeleni a resident of Marikana settlement said the community has mobilised themselves because residents want to make sure that they are not going to be moved. He said Marikana is now overcrowded and there are no open spaces. He said he supports the residents trying to occupy the new land. “We mobilised all these people from different areas who are struggling to pay rent,” said Makeleni. “It has been years now that we do not see any developments. I don’t even remember when was the last time the City built RDP houses for us. Instead you find a number of housing projects stopped and we do not know why. This is the reason we are taking the land by force.”
Nosizwe Makuzeni (48), a Lower Crossroads backyarder said she’s tired of renting and wants to have her own space. The mother of four who lives in a small two-room shack said, “I need a bigger space.”
“I’m paying R600 rent every month. I’m not working I depend on my children’s grants. For the past five years we were promised RDP houses but nothing has happened,” she said.
There was an exchange of strong words between Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) guards who were patrolling next to the Stock Road railway line and residents who refused to leave after they were told not to build shacks next to cables.
Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed that a gathering was monitored in Stock Road Philippi East earlier today during an attempted land invasion. He said the protesters dispersed peacefully.
See also Eviction by the back door.