[Promo] Cutting Edge | Ngquza Hill local municipality residents left out in the cold

Having lived in a developed settlement with access to water, toilets and electricity, residents of the Skiti, Katilumla, Vukani and Nkululekweni residential areas in Lusikisiki and Flagstaff respectively, under the Ngquza Hill Local Municipality, are now homeless. This comes after the municipality demolished their homes, citing efforts to clean up the town and, in some areas, to pave the way for development projects where an investor was expected to create employment opportunities. But since the demolish in Flagstaff in April last year, no sign of development. Only a school and a church spared the demolition.

Some of the affected families particularly in Nkululekweni in Flagstaff and others in the Skit residential area, took out loans to build their homes. The court has since halted the demolitions, with a new date set for August 2026 to review the court order.

Community leaders affected by the recent demolitions in Lusikisiki say they are in possession of a court order from their legal representatives instructing the municipality to stop the demolitions. However, they allege that the municipality continued with the process regardless, only stopping after the municipal legal unit allegedly issued a letter confirming the court order and directing that the demolitions be discontinued.

As a result, some of the displaced residents are sleeping in old vehicles, while others have sought refuge with friends and family members. An elderly woman from Nkululekweni breaks down as she recalls losing the seven-bedroom house she built through years of savings and borrowed funds. She now shares a single rented room with her daughter and four grandchildren, as she cannot afford to rent additional accommodation.

The affected residents of Ward 15 in Lusikisiki allege that the municipality’s actions were motivated by their political affiliation. The communities recently joined the MK and EFF political parties, citing poor service delivery by the municipality for more than 30 years. Many residents have lived in the area since the 1980s. Some moved there after seeking better employment opportunities in the urban area, while others wanted to be closer to healthcare facilities.

The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements has confirmed that it received a request from Ngquza Hill Local Municipality for approximately 500 temporary housing units. The department says it is currently interrogating the request and assessing the appropriate intervention.

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