4-year saga drives homeowner up the wall

KNYSNA NEWS - Housing issues in Hlalani, Knysna, have turned into a major saga for the Bala household over the past four years.

It all started with plans to build an RDP house on the neighbouring property for a fellow Hlalani resident, Cynthia Dilanga, in 2016. In the latest setback, his neighbour's retaining walls - erected by Knysna Municipality - are blocking the Balas' driveway.

Construction on Dilanga's RDP home was due to begin in 2016, along with the rest of the housing project in Hlalani, but because a portion of Bala's fence and house crossed the boundary lines of Dilanga's erf, construction never went ahead.

In the four years since, the municipality has negotiated with Bala and his family to restructure their home to make way for Dilanga's house.

Delayed due to the nationwide lockdown, the restructuring of the Bala house eventually took place in August, so Dilanga's house could eventually be built. But now the retaining walls next door are blocking their driveway and they have to park outside.

Xolisa Bala sits on the paving stones that used to mark his driveway.

The alternative entrance they have had to make in the fence to gain access to their property, does not solve the problem for Bala. "My mother has severe arthritis and we have had to call an ambulance for her pains, but now they cannot access the house because of the retaining walls."

There's another hitch too. "Because of the way in which the retaining walls have been built, the soil is washed away bit by bit when it rains, making it unstable," Bala explained. He is concerned that this could eventually affect the structure of his house, which is only about a metre from the fence.

According to municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt, "caution and consideration was and will always be taken into account when constructing retaining walls." He added that the municipality has created a housing opportunity and provided basic services to the Bala family.

"We unfortunately cannot assist them further. Vehicle access is a private matter. Our Integrated Human Settlements Department is constantly attending to these issues and engaging with affected parties. Where possible we have opted for stairs instead".

The area where the retaining walls have led to erosion of the soil under Xolisa Bala's fence. Photo: Blake Linder