Community funding initiative continues in order to fence off informal settlement
Despite initially raising only R16 073 of the R200 000 target, the campaign is still active, and the organisation is encouraging people to contribute.
Better Fourways, a local non-profit organisation, launched a community fundraising initiative last November to address the rapid growth of informal structures between Winnie Mandela Drive and Witkoppen Road.
The campaign aimed to raise R200 000 to fence off the corner of the area, with the goal of curbing the development of informal settlements. Although the campaign initially raised only R16 073, it is still active, and the funds remain untouched, leaving room for further growth.
According to Susan Harwood, one of the directors, the campaign is ongoing, and the organisation is encouraging people to join and contribute to the cause. “We have ring fenced the funding. It is still ongoing, and we are trying to raise enough money to do the entire amount of fencing we need to do.”
Also read: Fears rise as new Fourways informal settlement takes root
Harwood added: “It is not like the money has been spent, or whittled away. We are continuing to plead with people to deposit to our BackaBuddy. We are hoping to get that going well, but we need more local people to invest in us, if we are going to achieve what we want to achieve.”
Residents, like Julian Nxumalo, are worried about the impact of the informal structures on local businesses and the potential for the situation to spiral out of control, like Ginger Park and Clay Oven.
“We need a coordinated approach between the associations, politicians, and businesses to discuss and implement solutions,” said Nxumalo.
Also read: Clay Oven informal settlement residents won’t move until Government gives them somewhere to go
Sphiwe Ntuli, spokesperson for the informal settlers, said they are seeking assistance in getting better housing. “We stay here because we don’t have places to go and are looking for jobs here in Fourways. We are not going to move without proper assistance for accommodation from the city.”
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla did not reply to the query sent to him, despite a number of follow-ups.
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