Displaced victims of last month’s flooding in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village staged a protest which resulted in the closure of several streets in and out the community last Thursday (19 October). A relatively large consignment of police officers and law enforcement responded to the scene, where protester numbers were estimated at just over 50 people as well as dozens of children.
“Where must we go?”, shouted Lorenzo Fredericks, who said he represented the protesters made up of 21 families. He said that the protesters residents living at Uitkyk informal settlement, which was completely devastated by the flooding of Monday 25 September.
“We received temporary shelter at the community hall, but we were told that today the City would kick us out,” he said.
“We have no alternative accommodation. Our homes are under mud.”
Another protester, Jennifer Esterhuizen, said that they’ve been sleeping at the community hall for weeks while authorities keep making promises.
“There’s no communication, we don’t even know what’s the plan, such as why are they kicking us out without a plan for us? We have nowhere to go,” she said.
Shortly after the protest action, Fredericks confirmed that the City coordinated for the flood victims to be allocated homes at Riemvasmaak informal settlement, as some of its residents were allocated homes at the new Sir Lowry’s Pass housing development.
He said that earlier during the day the community blockaded the T-junction at the railway crossing and bridge in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, the main road passing the circle towards the N2, and the Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Road at William Sergeant intersection from 06:00 in the morning.
Law Enforcement as well as police officers engaged with the group, who eventually dispersed, and the roads were reopened later the day, about 13:00.
According to Somerset West police spokesperson Sergeant Suzan Jantjies police responded to the scene and managed to restore the traffic flow.
“No-one was arrested and no case docket was registered. A meeting took place on the same day between the community and City of Cape Town officials, and calm was restored to the area.”
Councillor Carl Pophaim, Mayoral Committee member for Human Settlements, clarified that due to scarcity of land in Sir Lowry’s Pass, at no stage did the City make any promises of allocating land. He said around Tuesday 26 September the residents not only unlawfully occupied the community hall, but they also orchestrated the occupation of the formal development known as Zwelitsha, where there are already approved beneficiaries from Sir Lowry’s Pass.
“To assist the residents the City came up with an immediate solution to accommodate the 21 families at the incremental development area, where 21 approved beneficiaries will receive their homes.
“Consultations and engagement have been held with the displaced residents since the flood. The group in the hall are adamant in their demands for formal houses.
“It must be noted that immediate emergency allocation is very rare and thus the City has fast tracked rudimentary processes and approvals to ensure residents are accommodated.”
Pophaim added a meeting was held on the day of the protest (19 October) with the displaced residents and the City further negotiating to resolve this impasse.
“We are confident the relocation will take place promptly, so that residents who have been waiting to receive a house are not further disadvantaged,” he confirmed, and added that after exhausting all options the City will decide whether to take legal action to seek remedial action against parties refusing to relocate and unlawfully occupy a community facility.
According to Charlotte Powell, spokesperson for the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre, emergency sheltering was activated following the floods and the families were relocated to the Sir Lowry’s Pass Community Hall.
“The Gift of the Givers, Al-Imdaad and the Warehouse assisted with humanitarian relief,” she said. “Nearby soup kitchens of Somerset West and Helderberg have donated supplies to help care for and feed the struggling families, and Disaster Risk Management volunteers have assisted the communities by digging out sand.”
