THERE has been no happy ending for former victims of the Ciskei National Independence Party (CNIP) forcibly removed from their homes in the 1980s.
They had been removed by the president of the erstwhile Ciskei state Lennox Sebe, leader of CNIP, so that their homes could be given to those loyal to the party.
Mvuyo Mandlana’s family, living in a leaking shack made of zinc, plastic and wood, is one of many families affected by the forced removals from Mdantsane.
Mandlana, who lives with his wife and grandchildren in Cambridge Location, said life in an informal settlement is humiliating especially after leaving the comfort of their four-bedroom house. The Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) had assured them that finances were in place to replace their homes.
The forced removals left more than 1500 people homeless. “Our home was taken away from us. Our house is still there; it’s heartbreaking to see other people living in my home,” Mandlana said.
When the Daily Dispatch reported on the matter in December 2011, BCM councillor Luleka Simon assured the victims that formal housing would be provided for them.
Compensation was offered to those who were removed and since then had built their own houses.
“All that is left for us is to go ahead with construction of those houses,” Simon said, adding that, “funding has already been secured from the municipality and the provincial government”.
But BCM has failed to deliver.
After years of waiting, a handful of victims of the CNIP removals picketed outside the East London City Hall yesterday hoping the mayor would take notice of their plight .
“They promised they would build us houses on a plot on the outskirts of Amalinda. We are still waiting,” said Mandlana.
Mandlana and his family are among 275 families who were identified by BCM for assistance. — gugup@dispatch.co.za
Sebe's victims still homeless
They had been removed by the president of the erstwhile Ciskei state Lennox Sebe, leader of CNIP, so that their homes could be given to those loyal to the party.
Mvuyo Mandlana’s family, living in a leaking shack made of zinc, plastic and wood, is one of many families affected by the forced removals from Mdantsane.
Mandlana, who lives with his wife and grandchildren in Cambridge Location, said life in an informal settlement is humiliating especially after leaving the comfort of their four-bedroom house. The Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) had assured them that finances were in place to replace their homes.
The forced removals left more than 1500 people homeless. “Our home was taken away from us. Our house is still there; it’s heartbreaking to see other people living in my home,” Mandlana said.
When the Daily Dispatch reported on the matter in December 2011, BCM councillor Luleka Simon assured the victims that formal housing would be provided for them.
Compensation was offered to those who were removed and since then had built their own houses.
“All that is left for us is to go ahead with construction of those houses,” Simon said, adding that, “funding has already been secured from the municipality and the provincial government”.
But BCM has failed to deliver.
After years of waiting, a handful of victims of the CNIP removals picketed outside the East London City Hall yesterday hoping the mayor would take notice of their plight .
“They promised they would build us houses on a plot on the outskirts of Amalinda. We are still waiting,” said Mandlana.
Mandlana and his family are among 275 families who were identified by BCM for assistance. — gugup@dispatch.co.za
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