End
in sight for Dunbar settlements
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The
nine-year wait by Old & New Dunbar residents for new
homes appears to be coming to an end. The appointment of
a new development facilitator demonstrates the commitment
of the CMDA to see the project becoming a reality.
Meetings,
workshops and presentations are being held until mid-December
so that construction of houses can commence in February
2002. Part of the delay has been caused by the unavailability
of land for relocating people who have had to make way for
infrastructural work.
Zukiswa
Magengenene is the new
development facilitator at the CMDA.
She will be assisting the Dunbar communities.
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Lawrence
Pato is the Project Manager for Dunbar.
He is from the Metro Housing Department.
There
are currently 2 358 informal structures in the two project
areas, but there are only 1 426 sites available. There
are 932 sites needed for relocations. CMDA is still in
the process of identifying areas in Cato Manor where sites
for relocations can be developed. If the “one structure,
one housing opportunity” policy is applied, more funding
will be needed. A further R 4 765 per site will be needed
to ensure that each unit has a semi-pressure water connection,
a sewer connection, a pre-paid electricity connection
and a footpath or road access.
To
reduce the delay in providing relocation sites residents
have an option of choosing joint ownership of a site where
two families would be allocated to one site, but with
each owner having separate service connections and each
owner getting a title deed. The remaining sites would
be developed on a single ownership basis.
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‘Live’
electricity cable shocks child
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Electricity
theft in the Cato Manor informal settlements is continuing
despite joint efforts by Metro’s Department of Electricity
and the South African Police. One of the consequences of
electricity theft is that careless criminals are leaving
“live” cables on the ground, which are a hazard to passers-by.
Eight-year-old
Nkululeko Khanyile is lucky to be alive after he was shocked
by a live wire that was left in the open ground in Cato
Crest recently. He was rushed to hospital by a neighbour
who had seen him writhing in pain.
Nkululeko is the fourteenth child to have been shocked in
Cato Crest. Thirteen of them have died as a result of electrocution.
The wire that almost claimed Nkululeko’s life was not only
left in the open ground, but also runs through a passing
stream and at some point is tied to a fence wire.
Nkululeko was the second person to be injured by this wire.
Earlier a woman was rushed to Ekuphileni Clinic after she
received serious wounds from stepping on the wire.
Said Cato Crest resident Milton Gcwensa: “The situation
in this place is becoming desperate. As much as people realise
that electricity theft is dangerous, they need electricity
to cook, watch tv and listen to the radio. Perhaps what
the authorities need to do is to look into the solar panel
system, and the sooner the area is developed the better.
The police need to make arrests. The removal of electricity
cables is not enough. Tough jail sentences need to be imposed
for the good of everyone.”
A quick drive around by IZWI staff revealed that theft of
electricity does not only occur in Cato Crest. It also happens
in both the Dunbar settlements.
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Nine
year old Nkululeko Khanyile is the latest victim of illegal
electricity connection. Thirteen children have died as
a result of electrocution.
There
is photographic evidence of houses using illegal electricity
connections in these areas. If this dangerous act of theft
is not stopped IZWI staff will be compelled to publish
the photos in our next edition. Forewarned is forearmed.
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| Support
centre for manufacturers |
 Have
you thought of starting an ice-cream or candle making business
but did not know where to go for information or advice? Cato
Manor’s aspirant manufacturers will now be able to go to the
Cato Manor Entrepreneurial Support Centre (ESC) which will
be up and running at the beginning of February 2002.
Robin Winter, an acknowledged expert in small business development,
has been contracted to establish the ESC after responding
to the advert in IZWI. His brief is to set up a small business
support systems, also known as the Incubator Programme.
Robin’s track record includes the establishment of both the
KwaMashu and Umlazi industrial parks which were financed by
the KwaZulu-Natal Finance and Investment Corporation (KFC).
He also played a leading role in making the Community Self-Employment
Centre in Port Elizabeth a successful model for the rest of
South Africa.
When the ESC building has been completed approximately 15
factory units will be made available for rent by emerging
manufacturers. The establishment of the ESC is an initiative
between the CMDA, the European Union, Unicity Durban and the
CSIR. It is aimed at empowering emerging businesses by providing
advice and support, including the drawing of business plans,
book keeping methods and how to access operating finance.
Initially the ESC will be housed at Intuthuko Junction, but
will be moved to a site along Booth Road Central in 2003. |
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