Hundreds of shack dwellers in Buffalo City Metro marched on the East London City Hall to demand houses from mayor Xola Pakati on Thursday.
However, the mayor was not there.
The marchers, who came from 26 informal settlements, have formed the Buffalo City Community Squatter Forum.
Shack dweller Olwethu Gcabo, from Eskom informal settlement in Scenery Park, said she was born in a shack, grew up in a shack and gave birth in a shack.
“We demand proper houses, we can no longer live in squalor like this. When it’s raining, our shacks flood, destroying the little furniture we have.”
The forum represents shack dwellers from Mdantsane, Ziphunzana, Orange Grove, Scenery Park and Cambridge location, who marched from the North End Stadium to the city hall.
Speaking to the Dispatch, forum chair Andile Faye said they decided to march after the mayor failed to mention the city’s plans for shack dwellers during the mayoral imbizo in October.
“He said nothing about the plans the city has for us, meaning there were no plans,” said Faye.
In their memorandum, the forum gave BCM seven days to communicate their plans for providing proper housing for shack dwellers in the metro or else they would withhold their votes in the upcoming general election.
“We know the voting season is upon us and we will start seeing officials navigating through our shacks campaigning for votes, but we will not vote if they don’t give us a positive response,” said Faye.
Faye said they felt “undermined” by the mayor for not addressing the needs of shack dwellers.
“He did not even come to accept our memorandum, an official from the department of human settlements came. We feel undermined,” he said.
Mayoral spokesperson Luzuko Buku said the mayor was attending an investment announcement at the East London IDZ.
“This was a prearranged event, and even though the march was not compliant with the public gathering law, the mayor ensured that there was someone to accept the memorandum on his behalf,” said Buku.
Buku dismissed claims that there was no mention of plans for shack dwellers at the mayoral imbizo.
“Throughout the imbizo, the mayor included the plans for informal settlements.”
Buku said the mayor would study the memorandum and respond...