Dispute collapses housing meet

Beneficiaries of the False Bay Housing Project stormed out of a report back meeting with Mayco member for Area East, Councillor Anda Ntsodo, claiming it was not a true reflection of their expectations, and demanded that Mayor Patricia de Lille address them instead.

The meeting was meant to give them progress on the project last week Thursday.

Ntsodo had earlier said construction of the civil infrastructure needed for the provision of services such as water, sewage and electricity started in July this year.

He had added that 327 state subsidised houses will be built on the site.

“According to a signed memorandum of agreement, 50% of the beneficiaries will come from Ilitha Park and another 50% from Monwabisi Park.

An elected project steering committee from both communities will be involved. This confirms the communities accepted the False Bay housing project and are willing to work with the City going forward,” he said.

Community members wanted to find out when will the construction of the actual structures start and when it will be finished.

Ntsodo said the tender process for the appointment of a building contractor was underway and they hoped to conclude the process by the end of the year so building work can start.

It was during question time that all hell broke loose.

Some residents said they were not happy with the report.

Bonga Zamisa said the report was not a true reflection of the project and called for the mayor to come and speak to them.

Zamisa asked for the meeting to be postponed until then.

Some residents from Monwabisi Park also asked questions about another project, meant to happen after the False Bay housing project.

Ziyanda Solomon from Ilitha Park told the meeting that residents from Monwabisi Park were missing the agenda of the meeting by asking about their project which was not on the agenda.

Chaos began at the meeting as the two communities started shouting at each other on what needed to be discussed in the meeting.

The group from Monwabisi Park walked out, saying they had every right to raise questions about their project.

Ntsodo said the meeting was meant to give an update to the two communities on the progress made on the False Bay housing project, as well as to inform the community on the way forward..

“Challenges arose when one of the community members objected to the meeting being used to bring forth concerns about the greater Monwabisi Park project.

“I reiterated that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss the progress to date on the False Bay housing development and that a separate meeting will be held to address the Greater Monwabisi Park issue”.

Ntsodo said they will engage still.