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IOL News
4 days ago
- General
- IOL News
When location matters more than quality housing
The Bottlebrush informal settlement sprung into life in the 1980s, after the floods hit Montford. File picture: Siyanda Mayeza/Independent Media The Bottlebrush informal settlement sprung into life in the 1980s, after the floods hit Montford. File picture: Siyanda Mayeza/Independent Media Image: Siyanda Mayeza/Independent Media TO UNDERSTAND housing policies in practice, one must walk the footpaths of the communities they intend to serve. In my own journey across South Africa, I have visited countless neighborhoods where the grand promises of the Constitution meet the grit of everyday survival. One such place is the Bottlebrush Community in KwaZulu-Natal, an informal settlement tucked behind Crossmoor and Shallcross in Durban's Chatsworth area. Bottlebrush sprang up in the 1980s, when floods displaced people, mainly Indian, in nearby formal townships, and desperate families grabbed a patch of vacant land rather than be shunted to distant government camps. Today, Bottlebrush is a sprawling shantytown of an estimated 19 000+ residents, many drawn from rural South Africa and even neighbouring countries by the magnetic hope of the city. The settlement sits cheek-by-jowl with the formerly established Indian suburbs, a poignant symbol of apartheid's fading geography and with an invisible line separating formal homes from informal homes. As you step off a paved road in Crossmoor onto the dirt road of Bottlebrush, the world changes, you enter a maze of RDP homes, shacks assembled from plastic and election boards, timber off cuts, iron sheets, anything that can keep out the rain. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Previn Vedan at the Crossmoor Transit Camp Image: Supplied Narrow pathways wind through this hill of humanity, some live electrical wires - some illegally connected - dangle perilously overhead and the smell of wood smoke mixes with refuse in the air. Nearby, in the Crossmoor Transit Camp, one of the most ethnically diverse spaces you will find in South Africa, I saw true leadership in a Mozambican national named Paul Manhica. A community once rocked by xenophobic violence, Manhica, married a South African woman and was elected unanimously as the Camp's chairperson. This was not just an act of tolerance, it was a triumph of Ubuntu. His leadership helped bridge divides and reminded me that belonging is about contribution, not birthplace. Walking through Bottlebrush on an early morning, I witness scenes of resilience regardless of hardship. Women walk long distances balancing buckets of water on their heads, collected from communal Jojo tanks located on roadsides, since many shack homes lack running water. Children in crisp school uniforms pick their way around mud puddles, determined to get an education that might one day allow them to move out of here. One young man, Phineas, tells me he came from the Eastern Cape in 2007, lured by relatives who said jobs were plentiful in Durban. Within two weeks, he did find a job at a local mall. This is proof that opportunities do exist in urban hubs. 'I'm happy living here,' he insists. 'My shack is not a palace, but good enough for my needs. Work is nearby, my family back home depends on my earnings'. His words echo a sentiment I hear often; location can matter more than housing quality. Many Bottlebrush residents value being close to jobs and transport over having a larger house in a far off settlement. The once vacant land was invaded under the tenure of a politician who served as the councillor for the area initially as a member of the Minority Front and later under the Democratic Alliance. He said the pursuit of a 'better life' into this land of milk and honey had enticed many to make Bottlebrush home. Paradoxically, even though living conditions are harsh - shack homes get flooded in heavy rains and electricity theft causes frequent fires - people see it as a place of hope, a foothold in the city economy. However, the idyll of informal settlements as a 'promised land' is tempered by stark challenges basic services are a constant struggle; illegal electricity connections - as mentioned - weave a dangerous web, electrocutions and shack fires have occurred and neighbours in formal houses also suffer outages from the now overloaded grid; water tankers service Jojo daily to supplement the trickling standpipes; there is no formal sewage system for part of the settlement, many rely on pit latrines or makeshift toilets; waste removal is infrequent, trash accumulates in piles, attracting rats. These are not just inconveniences, they are daily indignities that erode health and morale. Service delivery protests erupt with depressing frequency, as residents barricade roads and burn tires to demand the basics of modern life. Often the response from the government is a mix of promises and temporary fixes, but the underlying issue is that the hundreds of informal settlements throughout South Africa are still considered 'temporary', even though they are decades old. The government hesitates to fully install infrastructure on land that was originally invaded, fearing it might encourage further land grabs. And indeed, land invasion is part of the DNA of South Africa. Bottlebrush expanded over the years through new waves of occupations. The settlement now covers over 25 000 square metres and has offshoot settlements like the nearby Ekupholeni - which was born when shack dwellers became aware of a government housing development and decided to invade the development site, in the desperate hope of being given preference to the 'to-be-built' homes. Many believe informal settlements are occupied by the destitute and unemployed. My work, particularly during the Covid-19 vaccine outreach, shattered that illusion. I struggled to find people over 60 years old in these communities because most residents are working age individuals. Informal settlements are hubs of mobility, people rent close to industrial areas, stay during the working periods and return home during festive or year end holidays. Poverty, here, is not always about laziness, it is about proximity to opportunity - And this particular point requires an investigation into wage payments from employers, if this investigation is overcome then we must turn to the discussions of a minimum wage versus a living wage. The phenomenon of the 'shack lord' deserves mention. In many informal areas, a few enterprising (or rather exploitative) individuals stake claim to sections of land and then rent out shack homes to others, effectively becoming slumlords in an extra legal property market. In the Lusaka settlement, which is also located in Chatsworth, for example, some who were allocated formal RDP houses in a nearby project simply moved tenants into their old shack homes at about R500 per month.
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- TimesLIVE
'Fraudster' arrested after allegedly confessing to RDP housing scam
A woman who allegedly scammed a number of people by promising to fast-track their applications for government subsidised housing has been arrested after allegedly walking into the Gauteng department of human settlements office and confessing her crimes. The woman told a senior official at the department's customer support centre earlier this week she had illegally collected more than R100,000 from members of the public, the department said She claimed she could help them 'jump the housing waiting list' and secure Breaking New Ground or RDP houses. The official alerted authorities and the suspect was apprehended in a joint operation by the department and the Ekurhuleni metro police. She is now in police custody and faces charges of fraud. Human settlements MEC Tasneem Motara praised the official who escalated the matter. 'I commend the official who acted responsibly and was not tempted to get involved in corrupt activity herself. We are serious about cracking down on corruption and fraud, especially those who are trying to take advantage of citizens who have a real need to be allocated [housing] as soon as possible.' The department reiterated warnings about housing scams and reminded the public it does not charge for any of its services. It urged residents to remain alert and avoid being duped by individuals who falsely claim to be government officials. 'Please be aware of unscrupulous individuals who pose as officials from the Gauteng department of human settlement — falsely claiming to be MECs or heads of department to deceive and extort money from the public.'
Eyewitness News
24-05-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
City says there's no money for water and toilets for Mamelodi settlement
Families living in Marikana informal settlement in Mamelodi have been living without proper access to basic services like toilets and running water for over eight years. Residents we spoke to say they've had no choice but to connect electricity and water illegally to survive. Many are unemployed and rely on social grants. Most of the more than 600 people who live on a flood line near the Pienaars River, first moved onto the land in 2016. They hoped that the City of Tshwane would eventually provide basic services until they were allocated RDP houses. But years later, nothing has changed and conditions at the settlement are deteriorating. Some households have dug their own pit toilets, but other relieve themselves in the surrounding bush. There is flowing sewage water in the potholed-streets. Illegal electric wires hang from poles overhead and inside yards. Households pay up to R350 a month to RDP homeowners in the neighbouring community to connect to electricity and water. Resident Lebogang Ngxila pays R250 to use electricity which was connected by community leaders to her home. She said she struggles to cook food for her family because the power supply isn't stable. 'It often trips early in the evening when most of us are cooking,' said Ngxila. Moses Malebana is one of several residents we spoke to who complained about a lack of road maintenance and electricity. He said they have to jump over puddles of dirty, smelling water next to their shacks. 'When some cars pass here at high speed, they splash my home with this dirty water,' said Malebana, who is unemployed. He said he could no longer afford to pay the electricity fee, so his illegal connection was switched off two months ago. He now boils water and cooks on a wood fire. Another resident, Nonhlanhla Galeka, lives with her boyfriend and their 11-month-old baby. She told GroundUp that she has to leave her baby alone in the shack each time she relieves herself at a neighbour's pit toilet 400 metres away. 'I cannot build a toilet in my yard because my stand is very small. This place is very cold because it is next to the river. My baby gets the flu very often,' she said. Galeka claims that several officials from the city previously visited the community on different occasions. She said the officials promised that they would get basic services and that they would be relocated to land more suitable for housing. Nonhlanhla Galeka says she has to leave her baby alone in her shack each time she goes to relieve herself at a neighbour's pit toilet 400 metres away. Ronald Nemakula said he applied for an RDP house in 2000 at the City's Department of Human Settlements, but he is still waiting. He built his shack in Marikana after spending many years waiting for the house. 'I want to be relocated to a safe place because life is difficult here,' he said. Gabeiel Nyodzani said that he relieves himself in the nearby bushes because he does not have a toilet in his yard. He said a lack of running water makes it difficult to cook and wash clothes. 'My life will be better if the municipality can give us chemical toilets and send trucks here to deliver water every week.' He added that when it rains, the river swells and floods their homes. City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told GroundUp that the city does not have plans to formalise Marikana because the land is on a flood line and therefore isn't suitable for housing. Mashingo confirmed that there are plans to relocate 220 homes but would not give further details about this. Asked to respond to the residents' claims that the City promised to provide them with basic services, Mashigo said the City currently doesn't have funds to provide services to Marikana. On the illegal connections, the city says it plans to remove them and take action against those involved. This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- The Citizen
Emalahleni Municipality warns residents about RDP house scams
Emalahleni Local Municipality is alerting residents to be aware of scammers fraudulently selling RDP houses, particularly in Siyanqoba. These scammers use social media platforms like Facebook and emails to lure victims, often posing as owners with fake green identity books. According to the municipality, they have received numerous complaints from community members who have fallen prey to these scams. The legal department is working to open cases with SAPS for reported incidents. It's crucial to note that government-funded RDP houses are not for sale and cannot be legally transferred without proper approval from the Department of Human Settlements. Residents who have been scammed or suspect fraudulent activity are urged to report it to SAPS and inform the Housing Department at the Municipality. To report suspicious activity, residents can call the municipality on 0800 204 228 or visit Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
21-05-2025
- General
- The South African
RDP housing scam targets Joburg residents, City issues warning
An RDP housing scam is currently circulating in Johannesburg, with a fake poster falsely offering help with RDP housing applications. The City of Johannesburg's Department of Human Settlements has confirmed that the poster is fake. Scammers created it to trick unsuspecting residents. The phone numbers on the poster are not from any official government department. The City of Johannesburg says that no City official can skip the government's formal housing allocation process or offer 'special deals.' The government provides RDP homes free of charge only to eligible applicants. A scam poster tells people to send personal documents via WhatsApp to a number linked to a fake 'Mr. M Moleya.' It wrongly claims that RDP house applications are open for all provinces and offers free help. The City has denied any connection to this message. The South African government has warned the public about housing scams, with a significant alert issued in October 2024 by the Department of Human Settlements. These scams usually involve people pretending to be officials and saying they can sell or speed up the process for RDP houses, often using WhatsApp or social media. The government stresses that RDP houses are not for sale. You should not send money or personal documents through unofficial channels. Watch out for scam indicators like requests for money, promises of guaranteed housing, and fake officials using made-up names. Residents are advised to visit the Department of Human Settlements, located at 222 Smit Street, Braamfontein, for accurate and official information regarding RDP housing. Housing applications are free and must follow official government procedures. You do not need to pay or find a 'connection' to apply or check your status. Please do not share your personal information or banking details with strangers. If you have questions, contact the department directly or look for official updates on the City of Joburg's platforms. Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
