The Herald Online **News**
Moved on, but still no houses
Tabelo Timse MUNICIPAL CORRESPONDENT
“WE were told vote ANC and get a free house – but little did I know they meant I would still be waiting more than 14 years later,” said Katie Mentor as she watched her brother put the final touches to her shack in Chatty, Port Elizabeth, yesterday.
A mother of five, Mentor said she had moved to Chatty from Damascus three weeks ago. Her neighbour, Bonita Holben, said the city‘s housing and land officials had held several meetings with the residents late last year and told them they needed to move.
“We were told the land we were staying on was municipal land,” Holben said.
Speaking about relocation day, Mentor said: “I had to wake up at 3am to break down my shack. The truck came at about 8am and my building material, furniture and my children were put on the back of the truck.”
When she arrived in Chatty, the truck stopped at a vacant piece of land, off-loaded her belongings and then drove off to fetch another family. “Just like that. I was left alone with the children to rebuild my shack. I had no help.”
She said she and her children had slept outside for three nights while her brother helped her rebuild her shack.
When families were moved the children did not go to school as the families rebuilt their lives, Holben said. “You just buy bread, sliced polony and mixer drink so you can eat. Sometimes you make a fire outside and cook supper. Thank goodness it did not rain that week.”
Lorraine Witbooi said she had been waiting for a house for more than 20 years. “We thought at least there would be toilets or taps nearby and maybe electricity when we came here. Instead, we only found taps and they are far away. We have the bucket system but the municipality doesn‘t come to empty them.”
Siphokazi Mthwa moved yesterday to Chatty 5, from Nelson Mandela Village in New Brighton. “I am sad today. I have lived there since 1990. We named the squatter camp after Nelson Mandela as he was released in 1990. We had so much hope then.”
At this week‘s housing and land committee meeting, ward 41councillor Trevor Louw said there was a lot of frustration in the community. He said many children had to drop out of school because parents could not afford taxi fare.
Committee chairman Eldridge Jerry said he was also frustrated and concerned, but “unfortunately there is nothing we can do. Our hands are tied as we do not have the budget ... it is up to (the province).”