Residents of Ekuphumleni near Hazeldean in Philippi fear they might lose their homes due to uncertainty about ownership of the land.

On Saturday, residents, mostly seniors, called a meeting with the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Mimmy Gondwe, who is now the national Deputy Minister of Higher Education, and the City of Cape Town’s Portfolio Committee chairperson for Human Settlements, Anda Ntsodo, to ask for help solving the land issue which has hung over them for 20 years.

Residents say an NGO had claimed to have bought the land for them but is now nowhere to be found now.

The community fear their homes can be demolished and are desperate to find answers.

Resident Libala Mamase said: “We are not sure whether the NGO still exists or not but we need help. We are not sure whether we will ever have proper roads because this land is still not ours. Some people have built houses and are afraid that one day they will be destroyed. This is part of the struggle,” she said.

Another resident Babalwa Ngewu claimed that the land had been bought for them but has not been transferred to them. She said the NGO used to update them but disappeared.

Ms Gondwe promised to contact the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to find out about the land.

She asked Mr Ntsodo to contact the Department of Social Development to ascertain the validity of the NGO.

“We need to determine the existence of the NGO. If we can sort out the land ownership, that will be perfect. I want to assure you that we will get to the bottom of it. We need everyone to work together on this issue but should we find out about the NGO and whether the land was truly bought, we will then find the truth and see what we can do. I also want Mr Ntsodo to contact social development and to also involve the mayor in this issue,” she said.

Mr Ntsodo said he shared the pain of the community. He promised to continue to remain in contact with them until the issue of the land is solved.

“We are here for your pain. I called the minister after some residents called me. We have to get to the bottom of this issue. I know people have seen in the media people’s houses destroyed because they are built on land that is not theirs,” he said.

He promised to come back to the community as soon as has all the facts.

Residents fear their houses will be destroyed because they are not owners of the land.

Dr Mimmy Gondwe addressing the Ekuphumleni residents.

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Ekuphumleni residents fear losing their homes