- Martin Cloete (61) waited for 28 years to return to his late father’s beloved District Six community, but he says his return has been bittersweet.
- Cloete was one of over 100 claimants who received the keys to phase three of the District Six housing development in 2022.
- However, what was meant to be a joyous occasion turned into a nightmare when he allegedly noticed the “shoddy workmanship” of the homes.
Martin Cloete (61) waited for 28 years to return to his late father’s beloved District Six community, but he says his return has been bittersweet.
Cloete was one of over 100 claimants who received the keys to phase three of the District Six housing development in 2022. However, what was meant to be a joyous occasion turned into a nightmare when he allegedly noticed the “shoddy workmanship” of the homes.
He explains that he moved back with his wife in September last year.
Cloete says he was initially reluctant to relocate because one of the bedrooms was flooded before they could move into the house.
In a video seen by People’s Post, rain could be seen seeping through a closed bedroom window causing a pool of water on the carpet which quickly spread.
Cloete says: “We didn’t want to move in because the bedroom was flooded. My wife is an asthmatic. How could we move into the room like that? I had to lift all the carpets and have the room tiled. We had to pay for this from our own pockets and we are pensioners.
“We had damp walls and cracks which we had to fix ourselves,” he adds.
People’s Post visited the area on Wednesday 14 February and spoke to various residents who all echoed the ‘shoddy workmanship’ of their properties.
Fellow resident Jeff Alexander claimed the whole development was “fraught with problems”.
“If it’s not pipe leaks, it’s plastering falling off the walls. In my opinion, I don’t know how this complex could’ve been passed and handed over to the residents.
“My son is asthmatic and we had rising dampness in the room and there was mould forming on the carpets.
“We had to rush my son to hospital and doctors told us that he must move out of that room.”
Alexander says due to heat pumps not working, their monthly electricity bill rocketed to over R1 000.
“Every house has heat pumps that are not working.
The heat pump is supposed to reduce your electricity bill by 50%. My son and I live with my mother. Currently, we pay R1 700 for electricity and we are three people. Imagine my elderly mother had to pay that herself?”
Another 84-year-old resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had a knee replacement and has difficulty walking.
He explained that he was promised a ground-floor dwelling. But he now lives on the first floor and has to climb several flights of stairs to get to his home.
“When we heard it’s on the first floor I was worried. If there weren’t railings on the stairs it would be awkward for me. Since living here, I only walked to Hanover Street once with the help of my grandson and daughter. Other than that, I must be driven around because I can’t walk alone.”
Alexander said they often deal with water pipes bursting.
“Since we have moved in here, we have had about 30 major leaks, where the water meters just explode because of the water pressure. It takes the land claims department up to three weeks to come out and fix this.”
Thaakirah Moerat, another resident, explained that because of a burst pipe outside their property in Duff Court, her 18-month-old son almost drowned when he fell into the pool of water.
“The hole wasn’t initially as big, but with all the water pressure it got bigger. We have lots of kids running around. So, my son was drawn to the puddle of water, luckily, I was watching him. He stepped into the puddle and plunged to the bottom.”
She explained that there was foundation erosion. “I freaked out and ran to him. As I tried to grab him. I fell trying to help him. I scraped my arm and my leg. I was shocked and I kept thinking if I didn’t see where he was going, he would’ve been gone.
“I stuck a broom inside the hole, and it was more than half the length of a broom, obviously taller than an 18-month-old. I won’t let him outside until they fix this.”
Francine Higham, Ward 77 councillor, said the site is restitution property and was developed by the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). She said DALRRD has not “yet officially transferred the public infrastructure” to the City.
Higham said as a result the DALRRD is still responsible for services at the property and the City is “not able to service the water and sanitation infrastructure” there.
Higham says she is aware of the challenges faced by the residents. “I have been in regular contact with the residents of the Phase Three Development in District Six about the ongoing burst water pipes at the property over the last three months at least which has had a severe impact on the community there.
Higham said she visited the site on Thursday 15 February to engage with the residents.
“I visited the property to see for myself the latest major burst pipe which had already been running for almost 10 days and caused a large hole into which a toddler had fallen. And I heard from the residents their frustration with the current situation.
“I have sent a number of emails to the national department asking for an update on the repairs, as well as feedback on the transfer of the property so that the City can assist when there are issues. My emails have been acknowledged, but unfortunately, no further detailed feedback on their progress with these matters has been provided. The leak was repaired.”
The councillor urged the national government to prioritise the repairs at this property and also to “complete the transfer of the properties to the intended owners” so that the residents can “finally close the chapter on this long-drawn-out” restitution process.
DALLRD did not respond to People’s Post by the time of going to print.
