Blikkiesdorp residents vote for better homes

Residents of an informal settlement near Delft are voting for proper housing, which they say was promised to them 10 years ago by the DA

Cape Town - Better housing was one of the main things Blikkiesdorp residents hoped to achieve by voting in Wednesday’s municipal elections .

The informal settlement located close to Delft, was built by the City of Cape Town in 2007 but residents say crime and lack of proper housing have worsened over the years.

Zaakirah Grantham was one of the residents who made her way to Blikkiesdorp civic centre to make her vote. But she said even while standing in line she was anxious that someone might break into her home while she was away.

“I have lived in Blikkiesdorp for seven years. I am voting today hoping I will get a house but it feels no matter who we vote for, this is where we will stay. No one cares about helping the people in Blikkiesdorp get decent houses,”said Grantham.

But despite this Grantham said she is voting in the hopes that the new councillor will attend to their plight.

“Most of us standing in this line are actually voting for someone to help us out with better housing. No one deserves to live here,”said Grantham.

Shirley Heynes said when Blikkiesdorp was originally built premier Helen Zille told her and other Blikkiesdorp residents they would only be there for six months.

“We have been here for nearly ten years already and we still have no proper houses. I am voting today to get the key to the house I was promised. No matter how bad things are here I will make my cross. The councillors we choose today just have to do their work properly,”said Heynes.

Election Bureau