eShowe neighbourhood complains about new informal settlement
Residents of Sunnydale in eShowe are demanding quick action over what they say is a mushrooming informal settlement right next to their properties.
They say it sprung up overnight last week.
Some of the residents claim they were threatened by the dwellers when they confronted them.
One homeowner, who doesn’t want to be named, says it's the first time this has happened in their area, adding the settlement is also encroaching on the nearby school property.
"As a mom that means my kids can't play in the yard because we would have to be constantly watching them. Also, the kids won't be able to walk our little tearoom that we have here. It is going to affect a lot of people and it is going to change the way we are living in this area."
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Spokesperson for the Umlalazi Municipality, Nonhlanhla Jele, says they started tearing down some structures on Thursday.
Jele says they are working police and the head of security to deal with the situation.
"With the democratic dispensation, it is very difficult for us to just take decisions without doing proper consultations. People nowadays understand their rights, but at the same time we have dismantled some - quite a number of them [informal settlements]."
However, some of the residents don’t believe officials are doing enough.
"It is pointless for them [municipality] to say they are removing [the dwellings]. The people got aggressive towards them, and they backed off."
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