Efforts to relocate about 47 families from Joe Slovo informal settlement to a vacant piece of land near Zimasa Primary School hang in the balance amid strong objections from some Langa residents.
They are claiming that the move will negatively influence teaching and learning at the school and have been conducting pickets outside the venue to halt the pending settlement.
According to the City of Cape Town, the families currently stay closer to the “vandalised high-risk Eskom Tower 37 electricity pylon” and their lives are in danger.
Mayco member for human settlements Carl Pophaim said the City’s Human Settlements and Energy Directorates are working closely with Eskom National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) and all relevant stakeholders to urgently assist the families. He said the City has instituted emergency protocols to ensure the safety of the affected residents.
“It is our foremost priority to protect lives. We are taking swift action to ensure that the affected families are relocated to a safer living area as a matter of urgency and we appeal to the community for their cooperation and understanding during this critical time. The damage to the Eskom infrastructure poses a significant threat not only to those living under and near the pylon, but also to the wider area which will face serious consequences should the structure collapse,” he said.
Pophaim said this relocation is being handled with the utmost urgency and sensitivity in line with disaster management guidelines.
However, disgruntled residents have accused local authorities of acting without involving the community.
On Tuesday 6 May, a handful of residents picketed outside the site, on Langalibalele Drive, under the watchful eye of the City’s law enforcement and security personnel while heavy machinery levelled the site to pave the way for the relocation. Community leader Lungile Maqegu accused the City of undermining them, noting that they were not informed about the project. He mentioned that the space was reserved for a school playground.
“All we are saying is that there are no shacks that are going to be built here. This open space is used as a playground for Zimasa learners. We identified other open spaces where the City can relocate the people,” he explained.
Maqegu said an open space along Jakes Gerwel Drive and the one near the Langa railway station opposite Epping were optional.
Maqegu said the City didn’t even inform them about this current development, instead they saw the City’s trucks working there on Saturday 26 April. He said when they asked the Ward 52 councillor Thembelani Nyamakazi about it said he was not aware either.
Maqegu claimed that both nearby schools (Ikamavalethu High School and Zimasa Primary) were not aware of the development.
“We held a meeting with all the relevant stakeholders including the City officials and members of school governing bodies from both schools at Subcouncil 15 office in Bonteheuwel on Tuesday 29 April discussing the problem. The City officials said they would come back to us with the feedback, but we saw the trucks continue working,” explained Maqegu.
Zimasa SGB chair Nolubabalo Ntlantu said they were not informed about the project. She stated that the new shacks will disturb the learners in their classes.
“There are a lot of bad things that will happen once we allow the shacks to be erected here like selling of alcohol and drugs, burglary and violence. Our children will lose their playground,” she said,” adding that the children won’t be able to focus on their studies because of the noise from outside.
Ward 32 councillor Thembelani Nyamakazi said was unaware of the development that is happening in his ward.
“I know there are people who were identified by the City whose shacks are under the tower which is about to collapse. But, I’m not aware about their relocation and the officials didn’t inform me. But all the community members including the parents of the children in Zimasa and Ikamvalethu the City can relocate them to other areas , but not near the school,” said Nyamakazi.
Western Cape Department of Education spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department has engaged with the City. She said they have conveyed the risks associated with the electrical pylon and the threat to human lives.
“The relocation of families is only on a portion of the land. The land belongs to the City and notthe school. There have been discussions with the City with regards to alternative arrangements for sporting activities,” she said, adding that the WCED has requested additional security and teaching and learning has resumed as per normal.
She vowed to continue to monitor the situation as the department.
You must be logged in to post a comment.