Disappointed with local housing
2009-07-16
Eden Weiss
THE past weekend’s heavy rains have caused many newly built government-subsidised houses to show their true colours. Numerous residents complained of flooding and leakage this week. Residents in the newer section of Phola Park area in Mbekweni have experienced their first winter with resentment, after moving from shacks to formal houses and finding that they are not weatherproof. Nombulelo Demeshana (37) woke up to several inches of flooded water in her bedroom after rain started pouring in through the roof during heavy rain on Sunday night. “We had to use buckets to get rid of the water in the flooded room and all of the clothes in my closet were damp. “It is awful to be promised good quality homes, but not receive them,” said Nombulelo. Her sister, Vuyiseka Demenshana, visiting from the Eastern Cape, was gravely disappointed by the standard of the PHP (People’s Housing Process) houses. “There has been water running down these walls since the beginning of June.” Nombulelo received the house in June 2008 and claims that there were only a few minor problems when she first moved in, but they have simply increased over the last few months. Many of the homes surrounding Fumela Street in Mbekweni had wet clothing and furnishings drying outside this week, after rain entered their homes over the past few days. The local residents said that they simply wished for the respectable homes they had been promised.
More
News
|
