Key Takeaways
- Dozens of shacks have been built on top of the Transnet freight railway line near Potsdam Road in Dunoon, despite plans for relocation dating back to 2013.
- The City of Cape Town says funding approval for relocation is still pending, and the number of people exceeds the original count.
- Living conditions at the Siyahlala informal settlement have deteriorated rapidly, with residents relieving themselves in plastic bags or walking far distances to the nearest toilet.
- The settlement is littered with plastic, discarded clothing, food waste, and broken household items, and many residents have nowhere else to go.
Introduction to the Crisis
The Siyahlala informal settlement in Dunoon has been a source of concern for years, with residents living on top of the Transnet freight railway line near Potsdam Road. Despite plans for relocation dating back to 2013, the settlement continues to grow, with many shacks being erected on top of the railway tracks. The City of Cape Town says funding approval for relocation is still pending, and the number of people exceeds the original count. This has led to a deterioration in living conditions, with residents facing numerous challenges, including lack of access to basic amenities such as toilets and clean water.
The History of the Settlement
The Siyahlala informal settlement was initially established on municipal land across from Potsdam Road, near the Transnet freight railway line. However, over time, many shacks have been built on top of the rail tracks, despite the dangers and health risks associated with living in such close proximity to a railway line. In 2013, a high court-supervised relocation plan was put in place, but it has stalled, and the settlement continues to grow. In 2018, a service delivery protest by Siyahlala residents led to the suspension of freight trains along this route, after Transnet and the anti-land invasion unit had tried to remove the occupiers. The state’s eviction request was referred to a mediation process by a judge, which has yet to be resolved.
The Current State of the Settlement
The living conditions at the Siyahlala informal settlement are dire. Many residents relieve themselves in plastic bags or walk far distances to the nearest toilet. The area is littered with plastic, discarded clothing, food waste, and broken household items. Community leader Zukiswa Kaphakati says that most of the current Siyahlala households were not part of the original relocation list given to the municipality. Many residents have moved to the area seeking work in the nearby industrial areas, while others have lost their jobs and have nowhere else to go. Resident Cameron Simana says he bought a shack built directly on the railway line for R8,000, after the seller moved to another area. He is now unemployed and has struggled to find a steady job, and has nowhere else to go.
The Challenges Facing the Residents
The residents of Siyahlala face numerous challenges, including lack of access to basic amenities such as toilets and clean water. Mamelo Leoto, who works for a City contractor employed to clean Siyahlala, says that she uses a bucket as a toilet at night, and that they clean waste and store it in a shipping container for weekly removal. The settlement is also prone to flooding, with dark, stagnant water causing pneumonia and other health problems. The residents are desperate for a solution, but the relocation talks have stalled, and the City says that funding approval is still pending.
The Response from the Authorities
The City of Cape Town says that it is unable to move the group as originally planned because the number of people has mushroomed. Human settlements mayco member Carl Pophaim says that the City and provincial government’s application for funding for the relocation is still pending. Once approved, he says that the City will start relocating households to land owned by the province. Water and sanitation mayco member Zahid Badroodien says that there are 55 chemical toilets, 18 full flush toilets, and 15 standpipes in Siyahlala. However, the residents say that these amenities are inadequate, and that the settlement is still growing, with more shacks being erected on top of the railway tracks.
The Way Forward
The situation at the Siyahlala informal settlement is critical, and requires urgent attention from the authorities. The City of Cape Town needs to provide a solution to the residents, who are living in dire conditions. The relocation talks need to be restarted, and the City needs to provide adequate amenities, such as toilets and clean water, to the residents. The provincial government also needs to play a role in providing funding for the relocation, and ensuring that the residents are relocated to a safe and healthy environment. The residents of Siyahlala deserve a better life, and it is the responsibility of the authorities to provide it to them.