Home at last
GOING HOME: Beneficiaries visiting the beautiful Dido Valley
Several families, who were forcefully removed from Simon’s Town during apartheid and shunted off to informal settlements, returned home on Wednesday.
The Red Hill and Luyolo residents visited the site in the beautiful Dido Valley where their new homes will be built.
These are the families whose parents were moved because of the Group Areas Act of 1950 which aimed to separate the different races in designated areas.
Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements Councillor Malusi Booi says the people will now have ocean and mountain views.
“I would like the beneficiaries to understand [that] the land where the project is, is very expensive and they should not sell it,” he says.
“The value of the houses will be about R200 000 but in about three years it will be over a million.
“The space is very good, close to the transport and shops, you have beautiful views.”
The council assured the recipients they will not pay a lot for rates and municipal services.
“There is a funding put in place for them,” says Booi.
“We understand that the area is expensive to live in.”
A beneficiary from Gugulethu, Siphiwo Kolo, says in 1965 he came home from school and found out that his family had been moved: “When I got home, there was nothing there and I was told by the people who were still in Luyolo that my family has moved to Gugulethu. I then moved there, and I have been there since.”
Simon’s Town Ward Xouncillor Simon Liell-Cock tells the Daily Voice he is happy about the integration.
“This had to happen in 1994 already, but there were a lot of problems. I am just so happy that we will merge different cultures in the area.”
Liell-Cock says the land they are building on already costs a small fortune: “Someone I know sold her house for R1.35 million and that is the cheapest in this area.
“The most expensive houses in this ward will cost around R5 million.”
The project is expected to be completed in 2022 and 600 families will be living in Dido Valley.