By Lindokuhle Fuba, Siphesihle Joji and Andisiwe Plaatjie
ENkanini residents in Joza are excited about a project that is set to ease their flooding and sanitation frustrations. The development project, funded by the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements, will benefit various informal settlements in the Makana Local Municipality.
Makana Municipality spokesperson Anele Mjekula said the Human Settlements department appointed the Sarah Baartman District Municipality as the lead implementing agent for the upgrading of informal settlements across four local municipalities as beneficiaries and Makana is one the beneficiaries.
The project has the following deliverables:
* Water: water tanks, stand-pipes and supply piping
* Sanitation: provision of chemical toilets, easy-flush toilets
* Refuse: wheelie bins
* Access: access roads, water drainage
“All of the above will be implemented in phases and we recently launched the first phase, which is focusing on access roads, water drains. The expectation is that it will cover all informal settlements in Makhanda. As Makana Local Municipality we welcome this development as it is intended to assist the municipality in addressing service delivery challenges. In addition, this project opens opportunities for jobs – small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) benefits and access to basic services such as water, sanitation and roads,” Mjekula stated.
Dolf van Loggerenberg of the construction company Jojo Solutions said: “We are constructing proper G5 roads that will last, rather than just gravel roads. Additionally, we will be including toilets for the informal settlements, and the main route will also be part of the improvements.”
While the company is currently upgrading roads and installing a G5 sub-base, they do not yet have proper toilets on-site, but they will provide flush toilets in due course, Van Loggerenberg said.
New drains will be built to help alleviate flooding problems. Van Loggerenberg said they have started installing V-drains that will help discharge rain water. “A V-drain takes the water down, and then you see there’s an open area. The excess runoff water will go into that open area, because there’s no dwellings, there’s no houses. It can evaporate with the sun.”
The benefits for residents of the informal settlements also extend to employment opportunities in the project. Van Loggerenberg said as a subcontractor they are committed to uplifting SMMEs and ensuring local employment. They strive to provide job opportunities, employing a significant percentage of local labour, although the company also brings in some of its own workers who possess certain skills sets.
He added, “For this government project, the appointments are handled by the Public Service Commission (PSC), and the company is not directly involved in the hiring process.”
Residents of Extension 10 have questioned why the site office has been located in their area while the development takes place in eNkanini. They demanded the closure and removal of the office, claiming their ward councillor knew nothing about it.
One resident said: “This company hired people from Enkanini instead of hiring people from Ext 10 so we decided to call councillor Andile Hoyi and Lungile Mxube to help us get rid of this construction site.”
Van Loggerenberg explained that the construction was not for Ward 3 in Extension 10 and that the municipality had identified the site yard. He noted that relocating the site to another area would incur significant costs.
eNkanini residents have welcomed the project. “The dust inside our houses was too much, so we are feeling grateful about this road [development],” said Nozuko Sankobe. Nomsa Gavan said she was happy to get better roads, while Siyolise Ndanda was grateful to get a job in the project.
But residents of eThembeni and Khayelitsha informal settlements in Joza have expressed anger over their inadequate housing, unsafe roads and the lack of dignified sanitation facilities in their areas. Masixole Gagayi, a community leader, said they wanted answers regarding two development projects in the areas.
Vuyo Nabo, a resident, voiced his frustrations, saying that the mayor and their councillor had made promises long ago. “We demand action regarding the housing crisis, the shortage of water, inadequate toilets, and poor road conditions.”
Kaiser Nxamleko, representing the Department of Housing, acknowledged receiving a letter from the residents of Khayelitsha and eThembeni outlining their demands. He assured the communities that the councillor and the mayor would take urgent steps to address their issues.
Van Loggerenberg said during the current phase of their project, the company was focusing solely on eNkanini, but planned to move on to Khayelitsha and eThembeni once the current work is completed. Officials from the Department of Water had already granted the company the necessary connections to proceed with the project, he added.
