WATCH: Angry South Hills residents block roads

NOT getting what they hoped for, residents decided to barricade roads to get much-needed attention.

Residents of South Hills blocked Nephin and Swinburne roads on July 25, over allocation of houses.

Burning tyres, tree branches and bricks were used as tools to send a message to Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame and the housing department. Residents want to be placed into the newly-built units in Nephin Road. They claim these units were promised to them a long time ago.

One of the residents, Thuliswe Mkohliwe, said they are fed up and frustrated and all they want is to see themselves in the units.

“We as residents of South Hills feel that these units should be given to us. Some of the residents have lived in the area for a long time, but they aren’t considered when it comes to the allocation of these houses,” said Mkohliwe.

Moffat View SAPS were on scene to monitor the situation but things intensified as residents brought more tyres to burn.

An altercation between the police and residents ensued but SAPS managed to calm the residents.

Residents demanded someone from housing to come and address them before they could disperse.

One of the residents made a call to the mayor’s office and officials promised to come and listen to their demands.

After hours of waiting the officials finally arrived.

One of the officials, Thabo Tofile, the deputy director of allocation, said to the protestors before the housing project began the City said the project will only accommodate people who are on the 1996 waiting list.

“We met with councillors and leaders to change the City’s position of accommodating people from all over but to only accommodate Ward 57.

“After that, we told people working in the office that this is the new decision to be prioritised. The people working in the office took that to account and booked those who are from South Hills, but on 1996 waiting list,” he said.

He went on to say based on the criteria, which states only those who are on the waiting list of 1996, can get housing and others can’t.

“So, we met with councillors and leaders again. Because the people in the ward who were on the 1996 waiting list have been accommodated, we then decided to accommodate neighbouring wards,” said Tofile.

The official promised to take the residents’ issues and file a report which they will submit to relevant people and they will still keep residents in the loop.

Demands

• Allow long serving residents to occupy the units.

• Evict people from other wards who have occupied the units.

• The elderly should be a priority.

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