September 8, 2004
By Lucky Sindane
THE first steps to easing a housing crisis in council-owed accommodation in Phiri, Soweto, were taken last week, with the City of Johannesburg handing over title deeds to houses in Bram Fischerville to 36 families.
The families, who had been living in two-roomed council houses in Phiri - and sharing toilet facilities with their neighbours - volunteered to move to four-roomed houses in Bram Fischerville, some 10 kilometres away, near Dobsonville.
Johannesburg recently approved a project to subsidise and give title deeds to families who move from the council-owned houses in Phiri to Bram Fischerville.
Overcrowding had to be addressed. "There are 600 families who live in Phiri and 300 of those families have to be relocated to Bram Fischerville Phase 3," said the City's deputy director for housing, Patrick Shao.
An increasing number of people were volunteering to move, Shao said, adding that a large number were young people.
The City took into consideration several factors in relocating people, including access to schools.
"Disabled people and the elderly will not be relocated because they get their social grants from Phiri," said City spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane.
Because of the size of the houses and the number of family members who live in one house, some residents had built extensions on to the houses, but without council approval. Said Modingoane: "The houses are council-owned and therefore you can't extend without council approval."
Shao explained: "Each and every house in Phiri has a toilet outside, which is shared by two families. Others have built rooms in the way, denying people access to the toilet."
Another relocation effort will take off soon in Noordgesig, Klipspruit West, Mofolo South, Rainbow Valley and Riverlea Ext 1. People from these areas will also be encouraged to relocate to either vacant land within the vicinity of the current houses or be moved to Bram Fischerville
"About 22 houses in Noordgesig are built on the flood line on dangerous ground," said Shao, adding that the council is looking at the best available options to assist the people.
Houses in the other areas identified were overcrowded and people were living in squalid conditions.
"Discussions are going on to encourage people to volunteer to move," said Modingoane. "We want to improve their conditions of life - it's for their own benefit."
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