Imizamo Yethu community promised new homes within three months

12 April 2017 5:42 PM

Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services and Energy spoke to John Maytham on Wednesday afternoon about a joint briefing between the City of Cape Town and community leaders of the Imizamo Yethu.

She reported on what has transpired since the devastating fires that left many homeless.

Limberg says they haven't been able to continue with the re-blocking of the site to enable the rebuilding of the houses. She says this largely due to terrain, dealing with a site that is incredibly steep. She says the area affected by the fire is substantial, hindering progress.

Part of our re-blocking out lay plan we have thirty three blocks in total. The first two sections which we have referred to as block A and block B, those areas are done and we've been able to demarcate individual sites where structures have been placed up.
— Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services and Energy

At least two hundred people have been able to go back to their sites after the fire.
— Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services and Energy

Limberg adds that more work still needs to be done, She says they have also considered temporary relocation areas for families currently living in tents and community halls.

We've identified four suitable pieces of land. All those pieces of land belong to the city. Two of them are going to be suitable for immediate temporary relocation areas.
— Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services and Energy

She says the temporary housing structures provided by the city will be 3x3 corrugated iron structures that have been coated with fire retardant paint.

Limberg says the city has set aside three months for families to relocate back to Imizamo Yethu with complete housing structures.

Listen to the full interview in the audio below:

Written by: Mmakgomo Tshetlo