Relocation concerns Malabar residents

THE Malabar Residents Association (MRA) has recently been advised that 47 families will be relocated on an emergency basis from the Greenbushes area to erf 1755 in Parsonsvlei, in Bramlin Road, which is the main arterial road between Westering, Malabar and Gail Road in Gelvandale. The MRA is extremely concerned at the consequences and implications for Malabar as such a relocation will create many challenges in the form of:

• Traffic congestion on this very busy main arterial road;
• Lack of public transport for these families;
• Impact of temporary homes being erected on erf 1755 and the impact this will have on property values in Malabar and Westering;
• Safety and security concerns;
• The potential development of a slum area that will impact negatively on the surrounding suburbs and their social fabric;
• The lack of suitable and adequate services such as water, electricity, sanitation, etc, and the impact this could have on the environment and surrounding areas;
• The lack of schooling facilities for children relocating;
• The potential of social evils such as shebeens and drug/alcohol abuse developing in this area;
• The very real potential for conflict between Malabar Extension 6 shack dwellers and these 47 families, and the impact that this could have on safety and security in Malabar and Westering.

The MRA wishes to reiterate some of those concerns which we strongly feel have not been adequately addressed. We note also that there are further plans in the pipeline for a new housing development in Parsonsvlei where these 47 families will eventually be relocated.

Such a development will result in Malabar being hemmed in by RDP houses, given the Extension 6 Phase 2 low cost housing development which is undergoing review by the provincial government.

The "northern areas" in which the majority of citizens of "colour" live is a sprawling mass of low-cost houses interspersed, here and there, with middle/upmarket homes, for example, Gelvan Park, Parkside and parts of Malabar. To our knowledge there are no low cost houses being planned for other parts of the city (that is, in the former "white" areas of the city).

If we are going to integrate the city and reverse the wrongs of apartheid, then there should be a policy in place and a concerted effort by the authorities to ensure that low cost houses and settlements are planned for the entire city.

We live with the social problems in the form of gang related activity in our immediate neighbourhood (Extension 6) which is on the increase because of its proximity to Helenvale. We fear what will happen in the future.

The MRA therefore wishes to express its strong disapproval of this emergency relocation of 47 families and appeals to the municipality to reconsider this decision.

Dr RM Naidoo, chairperson, Malabar Residents Association