GQEBERHA – Within less than a minute, the place Nwabisa Yamiso had called home for four years lay in ruins, her belongings scattered on the ground as municipal officials and SAPS members looked on.

Just moments earlier, mattresses, couches, cupboards, clothing and other possessions had been hurriedly carried out as a bulldozer moved towards her informal structure.

Seconds later, the machine tore through the roof and walls, reducing the structure to rubble.

The demolition took place today (Tuesday, 29 September) as Airport Valley residents were relocated to make way for a 445-unit housing development.

Yamiso said she had lived in the informal structure for four years and had not received notice that it would be demolished.

“We did not receive a notice that the houses were going to be demolished and some of our neighbours are at work. They are not even waiting for them to come back from work,” Yamiso claimed.

“I am not happy about this…what is sad is that the conditions where they are transferring us are bad.”

Lusanda Tutu, whose informal structure was also demolished, said she had lived in Airport Valley since 2023.

“The worst part is that we were not given any notice. They just arrived and demolished,” she said.

Tutu said she would have to look for a place to rent because she no longer had anywhere to live.

Residents scrambled to remove what they could before the bulldozer tore through their informal structures, leaving belongings scattered across the ground and the remains of what had been their homes.

Angry shouts of “I’m not voting!” echoed across Airport Valley as residents voiced their frustration over the demolitions and relocation.

Community leader Mara Payi, who has lived in the area for more than three years, said some residents only became aware that demolitions were going ahead on Wednesday, 23 September

“We must take account that there are kids living here and vulnerable women who live alone. This is going to cause a very big impact on them. Police are fully armed against people who are unarmed.”

In a statement on Monday, 28 September, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said approximately 125 people had already relocated to a nearby safe area, where they were accommodated in temporary houses.

The municipality said it had assisted 39 additional residents with “consensual demolition and relocation” to the temporary site.

The 445-unit Airport Valley housing development had been delayed for more than three years due to resistance from some residents, the municipality said, adding that some of those resisting were not beneficiaries of the development.

“The Municipality would like to put it on record that the process is a legal relocation process, not a forced removal,” the statement said.

The municipality expressed its gratitude to residents who had cooperated with the relocation process.

It also condemned the actions of some residents who, it said, intimidated housing beneficiaries and provided them with incorrect information about the development, resulting in confusion and frustration.

Once the relocation process is completed, the municipality said it would “swiftly develop the sites and install services” in preparation for construction of the top structures.

The municipality said it had been forced to return funding to National Treasury during the past financial year because of delays in the relocation process.

It urged the remaining residents to allow the project to proceed, citing Nelson Mandela Bay’s housing backlog of approximately 100,000 units.

“Every effort needs to be made to ensure that planned housing developments are implemented without unnecessary delays,” the municipality said.

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