By Nangamso Mabindla
26 January 2004

BUFFALO City Municipality has initiated a project to improve the lives of 1 200 families living in the Nompumelelo informal settlement in Beacon Bay, East London, by building houses and upgrading the infrastructure.

As a first step, the municipality is currently moving families - some who have lived in the informal settlement for a decade - so that roads can be widened and pipes can be laid for proper sanitation.

Lindelwa Maneli of Buffalo City's Directorate of Development Planning said the families would be relocated temporarily. "People phone us and ask why are we moving people closer to the road … [but] it is only until we finish the project."

This upgrading of infrastructure is expected to be complete by the end of the year, with work on the houses beginning in April. The completion date is March next year.

The municipal project, which is supported by the provincial Department of Housing and Local Government, is aimed at providing permanent structures for the families in Nompumelelo. "We intend this project to be a success," said Maneli.

The municipality was working closely with the community, Maneli added.

Walase Matinisa, a resident and community representative, said the project was proceeding smoothly and that every family had been given a temporary site to move to.

"We are happy with the proceedings so far and are looking forward to working with the municipality again when they come back to build us houses in April," said Matinisa.

Last week, residents were busy moving to the new sites. "We don't fight amongst ourselves," he said. "We are all working together to achieve the desired results. The sooner we finish moving to the new sites, the faster the contractors will be able to finish their jobs."

Matinisa said he was delighted that he and his family would have a "decent home" next year.

Buffalo City communications manager Darby Gounden said the municipality had employed GM Construction and "they are already on site installing the infrastructure. We expect them to finish the upgrades by December."