Parkwood was in flames last week when a housing protest led to clashes between law enforcement and residents.
Acacia Road was closed down when residents burnt tyres in re- sponse to law enforcement officials breaking down illegal structures on a field on the corner of Falcon Way and Acacia Road.
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets when they were pelted with stones by residents.
Residents claim law enforcement used excessive force and they only retaliated because officials were violent. The structures were eventually taken down but by the weekend, most of them were rebuilt. The tensions started on Sunday February 21 when about 50 structures were erected by backyard dwellers from Parkwood (“We are tired of living in people’s yards”, Wednesday February 24, Southern Mail).
The dwellers complained of high rent, overcrowding, locked toilets and not having access to water.
They occupied the land despite warnings by law enforcement officials. The residents were told that their structures needed to have been taken down by Tuesday morning last week but they refused, leading to the clashes. At least five people were hit by rubbet bullets and four people arrested on charges of public violence.
The land had also been illegally occupied in 2009 and after a few forced removals, the land was subject to a court interdict, which expired this year.
Community leader Benjamin Adams said housing was promised to the community.
“The people were promised housing and up until this day those promises weren’t fulfilled. The City has forgotten about the backyard dwellers and in the meantime, they are the ones who suffer most. It is unacceptable and we want answers,” he said.
He added that residents will keep putting the structures back up until there are plans to help the backyard dwellers.
A proposal to build 37 houses in the area was discussed during the previous land invasion but ward councillor Melanie Arendse said it had been delayed because of financial constraints.
“The community has to form a committee and then from there proper negotiations and talk can be carried out through meetings and their grievances will be looked at. The community did not take the proper approach to acquire housing.”
Brenda Julies said residents didn’t intend to get violent.
“All the violence could have been prevented if law enforcement did not push people with their shields. That when people got angry and the violence broke out. There was no need for law enforcement to be so aggressive,” said Ms Johnson.
Benedicta van Minnen, mayoral committee member for human settlements, said they had to act to protect the land.
She said a City facilitator met with all role players last Monday, including the ward councillor and representatives of the backyarders, to try and resolve the situation. At this meeting it was agreed that the backyarder representatives would return to the group and explain to them that they had to take down their illegal structures.
“However, the group refused and the illegal structures were still in place, despite multiple warnings.
“Unfortunately, the community reacted with violence and aggression, despite all of the attempts at engagement and prior warning,” said Ms Van Minnen.
She added: “The housing need in the city is acute, and the City must therefore ensure a fair and systematic housing delivery process, to the benefit of all residents.
“This includes preventing illegal land invasions which result in poor access to City services, continual flooding, high crime rates, and poor connections with economic opportunities.”
Ms Van Minnen said the City will continue to engage with the residents.