http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1161176042227B225

New homes fail to dent SA's housing backlog

October 18 2006 at 07:00PM

South Africa's housing backlog has widened due to growing urbanisation and demand despite the building of 1,9-million new homes for the poor since the end of apartheid in 1994, the government said.

Of the total figure, 1,6-million houses worth about R37-billion have already been transferred to poor households, according to a review released late Tuesday by the national treasury.

"Despite these delivery rates, the housing backlog has grown," it said, adding that the number of dwellings classified as "inadequate" - mostly shacks - had grown 20 percent from 1,5-million in 1996 to 1,8-million in 2001.

his article was originally published on page 6 of Daily News on November 01, 2006

EThekwini councillors signs pledge over land
Bongani Mthembu
November 01 2006 at 02:55PM

The eThekwini Municipality's attempts to prevent the mushrooming of informal settlements and illegal building took another step this week when councillors were asked to put their heads on a block by signing pledges that force them to do everything in their power to prevent these illegal activities.

Failure to abide by the pledge, will be deemed to be a breach of conduct for councillors and will be dealt with accordingly.

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on November 03, 2006

Water crisis forces council to move squatters

November 03 2006 at 10:50AM

By Anel Powell

The City of Cape Town says "it is acting" on the health and environmental hazards at Imizamo Yethu, where tests have found "potentially fatal" levels of contamination in storm water running through the settlement.

Some people in Hout Bay have threatened to take the council to court for failing to provide adequate sanitation facilities.

"We need to relocate people to thin out the settlement," said mayor Helen Zille's spokesperson Robert MacDonald.

Available at
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1162725301232B216

Shack fire claims three

November 05 2006 at 01:34PM

Three people were killed in a shack fire in Kwa-Dabeka near Pinetown on Sunday morning, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

"Three unidentified adults were killed. We suspect it was caused by candles falling over. Seven shacks were destroyed," said Superintendent Danelia Veldhuizen.

An inquest docket was opened. - Sapa

http://www.sundaytribune.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3498075

Emmaus residents fall into housing cracks

October 22, 2006 Edition 1

Fundiswa Nkwanyana

The residents of Emmaus, near Pinetown, were ecstatic to move from their shacks to brick and mortar homes, but their joy turned to misery when the cracks started to appear. And there was no water to flush the toilets.

Now the community fears their homes might collapse.

The houses were built by the Mariannhill Mission Institute after conflict with residents over land allocation. The residents moved into the houses in 1991.

But their dream homes had no water or electricity.

Available at
http://www.sundaytribune.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3521376

'No shacks in KZN by 2010' - minister

November 05, 2006 Edition 2

Xolani Mbanjwa

Kwazulu-Natal housing MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu slammed the practise of shack-farming at the launch of a multi-million-rand slum-clearance project in KwaMbonambi near Richards Bay yesterday.

Addressing hundreds of people, Mabuyakhulu said his department wanted to eradicate all squatter camps in the province by 2010.

He said his department would pilot legislation giving municipalities more powers to deal with the scourge of land invasion and to stop the proliferation of slums.

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=283&fArticleId=2970571

Frequency of shack fires sparks anger

Frustration over lack of electricity services
October 28, 2005

By Carvin Goldstone

The death of a 1-year-old baby after a shack fire caused by a knocked-over candle in the Kennedy Road informal settlement has brought into focus the lack of electricity services in Durban's informal communities.

Little Mhlengi Khumalo was severely burnt last Friday when a fire gutted 16 shacks. He was taken to King Edward Hospital, where he died the next day. The frequency of shack fires caused by falling candles has left residents of informal settlements angry with the eThekwini Municipality's apparent unhurried attitude to providing electricity.

M&G online - SAPA story

Police fire rubber bullets to disperse protest

Durban, South Africa

14 November 2005 04:37

Police used rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of disgruntled Sydenham
residents, and arrested 45 of them for marching illegally on Monday, Durban
police said.

Police spokesperson Daniela Veldhuizen said angry Clare Estate residents
marched on mayor Obed Mlaba's office to hand over a memorandum that cited
dissatisfaction over housing and the alleged removal of basic services from
shack dwellers.

"At some point, the march got out of hand. Of the 45 arrested, eight were

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20051115081600224C185051#jump

Durban protests erupt in violence
Carvin Goldstone
November 15 2005 at 09:00AM

Violent confrontations between police and residents of two informal settlements in Durban on Monday led to 45 people being arrested.

In Clare Estate, police baton-charged a group of about 2 000 people marching on Mayor Obed Mlaba's office over the lack of housing for residents of the Foreman Road Informal Settlement.

Several people were injured when police opened fire with rubber bullets. Durban South police spokesperson Rani John said eight people had been charged and detained. The others were later released.

http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=502&fArticleId=2998655

Shacks of fear
November 17, 2005

By Max du Preez

The poor have been abandoned and ignored, writes Max du Preez

'We are on our own. We are completely on our own." I have read a lot of political documents, credos and statements in my life as a journalist.

I have never read anything as compelling, real and disturbing as the piece written in The Star last week by S'bu Zikode, chairman of the Abahlali base mjondolo (shack dwellers) movement.

He was speaking on behalf of the Durban settlements that elected him, but I am quite sure all people living in squalor in squatter camps in South Africa would say he formulated their anger and desperation accurately.