Opinion: Being blessed with a house regardless of location
And yes, I don’t own a piece of land even under some traditional authority, but the idea of 10 RDP houses being built on someone’s land whether they are for it or not, is really scary.
It is really funny how life works out. Recently 11 shacks which were occupied by tenants and the owner burnt down in Umkholombe Informal Settlement, luckily no one died.
All 11 Ward 20 residents lost almost everything in the fire, which is why Ray Nkonyeni Municipality recently announced that each tenant and the landlord (owner) will receive a temporary residential unit, and a newly-built RDP house from the municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements, at a later stage.
And that is awesome. Now, what I find funny (for lack of a better word) is the fact that the 11 temporary units/RDP houses allocated to the tenants, will be built on the landlord’s land, no discussion.
This was confirmed by RNM mayor, Sikhumbuzo Zero Mqadi, during a mayoral budget roadshow at the Merlewood community hall. When the mayor said this, the hall became really rowdy. While some were laughing, others did not take kindly to the announcement.
And yes, I don’t own a piece of land even under some traditional authority, but the idea of 10 RDP houses being built on someone’s land whether they are for it or not, is really scary.
Of course, the tenants deserve each and every one of those housing units that the municipality says it will give them, they have been through a traumatic experience; the location of the units though, Eish!
Speaking of why the units will be erected on that land, mayor Mqadi said government cannot give 11 units to one person. He added that the units will belong to each one of the tenants and the landlord will have his own.
That is why I say, it is really funny how life works out. I don’t think any of them saw this coming, both the fire and the announcement of housing units. Sometimes God/Universe does really use other people to bless you.
However, If I were the landlord, I don’t think I would have easily welcomed the decision because it is against the law to make money from a temporary housing unit or a RDP house. The landlord will no longer be able to charge them rent because the units will belong to the tenants. They are extremely lucky.
Since these residents live in Umkholombe, they are probably African like myself. So, I hope my ancestors can see what other ancestors are doing for their children; blessing them with houses regardless of the location.
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