At least 324 shack dwellers from Sondela informal settlement, in Ward 108 in Mfuleni, will be relocated to new sites along Parliament Street for temporary accommodation.
The relocation forms part of the City of Cape Town’s re-blocking project to accommodate the community. The project was launched in August 2019. Ward councillor Nkosiphendule Lombi described the project as a “breath of fresh air” for the community. He said the aim was to improve the living conditions.
“We are moving them a site with all the basic services like water, electricity and toilets. It is temporary accommodation while waiting to be relocated to their houses. We are moving the people from that area because it is not conducive to human dwelling, especially when it’s raining. It is a wetland. It becomes flooded quickly. Also, we are trying to minimise the shack fires,” he said.
According to Lombi, the plan is to relocate the entire community although there are no clear plans where the rest will move.
However, he stated that some people would move to new sites before June if all went according to plan. He praised the beneficiaries for their patience.