Mamelodi flood victim who have been relocated to Leeuwfontein Extension 27 in Tshwane have raised concerns about the lack of water and sanitation.
The flood victims who have been staying at danger zone and flood line were relocated in late November to a safer place by the City of Tshwane.
Flood victims are complaining about shortage of water and dirty mobile toilets.
They have also raise concern of transports, shops and for government to build school in the area.
The City of Tshwane since the beginning of relocation process had relocated 500 families and the relocation is expected to be concluded on Friday 22 December.
Many have been staying at Nellmapius Hall after their homes were washed away almost two years ago.
Thousands of residents were displaced when floods washed away their homes in early 2022.
Shacks in Eerste Fabrieke, Phomolong were erected along flood lines and wetlands.
Many found refuge at the community hall after the area was declared unsafe.
The City of Tshwane has started to relocate the residents to Leeuwfontein.
Residents however say they are now faced with poor sanitation.
Tshwane Talks team visited Leeuwfontein Extension 27 and talked to residents about their living condition and over poor sanitation. Some residents were happy about the relocation while some raise concern of sanitation.
Aubrey Matlala (48) said he is not happy with this place, we are very far from the transport and the stands are too small. We don’t get water every day and we are struggling to get water.
They deliver water after few days and we don’t have place where we can get water. There are toilets but they are far and they are dirty and they clean them after a long time.
“We are pleading with the City of Tshwane to speed up the process of installing electricity, water and flushing toilets and if they can do that everything will be alright and we will be in peace,” Matlala said.
Matilda Nkuna said we are struggling here and we don’t have shops nearby and we have to walk long distance to locals’ shops.
The transports are very costly. We pay double the amount to go to the mall and shop and also to come back.
“I’m very happy to be relocated to a permanent stand and I will be able to sleep peaceful at night.
I won’t be worried about rain because I know I’m at a safer place and my furniture won’t be ruin by rain,” Betty Mazibuko (34) said.
Thabo Sehlabela (39) said we want the city or government to build taxi rank and school for our kids because next year they will travel long distance to school, and we don’t know if city has arranged a transport for our kids.
City of Tshwane MMC for human settlement Ofentse Madzebatela said the department began relocation of the Mamelodi flood victims and the surrounding informal settlement area on the 28 November 2023 (Leuwfontien plot 229 J.R ext 27).
This relocation will see those on the flood line and those in Nellmapius hall and other surrounding informal settlement where development is being hinder by these informal settlements being relocated.
“Up to so far, the relocation has been going on smoothly except one or two hiccups here and there being some of those that we are relocating to Leeuwfontein from the Eerstefabrieke around riverbanks have been refusing to move.
We are going to court to ensure these people are moved because they are in the flood line and this can cause problems during rainy season,”Madzebatela said.
He said the Department of Human Settlements has relocated 100 households from Phomolong, 200 households from Eesterfabriek 77 and Mamelodi Phase 1 we have relocated 100 households. Now the department is relocating Mamelodi extension 17, up to date we have relocated 47 households and still must relocate another 53 families.
A total of 500 households/families were to benefit from the relocation to Leuwfontein and only 53 households still must be relocated.
The department has projected to have finalized relocations by Friday 22 December 2023, only the possibility of rain may disturb the projected time line.
“We are asking councilors and members of the community to work together with the department in ensuring that this relocation become seamless and most importantly these lands are not reinvaded as they would cost a problem for those who will invade including the city going forward,” he said.
