KNYSNA NEWS - For Mandela Day last year, Smutsville resident Angelina Armoed (58) thought the spirit of Ubuntu had finally reached her when she got the news that she would be receiving a house from the municipality.
But a year and four months later, this has not materialised, and she is still living in the same derelict dwelling in Montana Street that she has called home for the past 13 years.
On 18 July 2019, as part of its 67 Minutes Campaign for Mandela Day, Knysna Municipality handed Armoed a letter stating that it "dedicates" itself to building an affordable housing unit for her benefit as well as her household members.
The letter also stated: "This is further a genuine commitment that is in line with our RSA Constitutional obligation as well as our own Strategic Integrated Human Settlements Plan of prioritising the provision of adequate housing opportunities for our low-income and vulnerable households."
Armoed, who has lived in Smutsville for over 30 years, is desperate for the municipality to fulfil its promise. "The house is very cramped, there's very little space for us to live in, and it is falling apart slowly but surely, despite a lot of repairs that we've done over the years," she said, adding that she shares the house with six others. "All I want is the house that was promised to me."
Municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt confirmed the municipality's promise to Armoed.
"There was indeed a previous undertaking by a construction company who volunteered to build the house as part of the Mandela Celebrations. Unfortunately the volunteer company withdrew from the project due to capacity constraints," Bezuidenhoudt explained.
He added that the municipality has "looked at other scenarios which will now see the construction of the house included in a planned Sedgefield infill project which is at its planning stage".
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