Buffalo City Metro ratepayers are leaving its suburbs in droves to build state-of-the-art homes in villages just a few kilometres outside the metro’s main towns.
In recent years, Dikidikana and Masingatha, both villages near Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) and Bhongweni and Airport Park near East London, have developed into leafy havens with double-storey homes, double garages, huge yards and security guards.
Eskom has started to connect these areas to the power grid.
Between 2010 and 2020, close to 1,000 houses were built between Kwa Masingatha, 3km from Qonce, and Bhongweni, near King Phalo airport.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the council had commissioned a land audit so as to better understand and deal with the situation.
Airport Park and Bhongweni committee chair Simphiwe Fani told DispatchLIVE this week that many people had given up hope of living a decent life in the city’s urban areas because of the high cost of living there.
According to the draft IDP budget for 2020-2021, the municipality has approved a property rates hike of 9%.
BCM also proposed that electricity tariffs be increased by 5.2%, waste removal and sewerage services by 8.5%, and water by 9.1%.
Fani said hikes like these were the reason that drove people to semirural areas.
“People work in the city but their salaries do not allow them to pay rent or rates in town. They get plots in neighbouring villages and build their own houses.
“In just two years people can save enough money to build their own houses and not have to pay rates or rent.”
However, there were no municipal services and most of the new homeowners relied on illegal electricity and water connections, Fani said.
“We do not have services. Last month someone died from an illegal electric connection.
“We have asked the municipality for water, but that has not happened yet.”
He said more than 600 houses had been built in the area since 2010.
“Back in 2010, people built smaller houses, but by 2015 they were building much bigger homes.
“This shows that black people need land so that they can live in homes of their own design.”
Kwa Masingatha committee chair Ntabethemba Washa said building in the area was continuing apace.
“Everything is going smoothly. A contractor is installing electricity from Eskom, and we are working well with them in this community.”
Washa said the exodus was not motivated only by high rates and service charges.
“I do not have all the reasons why people move from the city to this area but many people simply want to build their own homes.
“There are close to 300 houses now and we are still working on getting water.”
He said residents would discuss paying rates if they were supplied with municipal services.
“We have a general meeting next month and that is where we will raise this.”
A resident in Kwa Masingatha, who asked not to be named, said the outflow of people to the outskirts of town reflected the new reality of how desperate people were to get their own homes without having to worry about rent and rates.
“Rates in town are high. I came from Cape Town and the rates here are much higher than there.
“So it is much better to build your own house here because we are only 3km from town.”
Ngwenya said the audit progress report had been presented at a virtual councillors' workshop last month and would be tabled in council for an informed decision to be made.
“The issue of land and housing is a moving target in that people justifiably migrate from other areas in search of better economic opportunities.
“This puts a strain on the economy and infrastructure of the city.”
He said the invasion of the Greydell farm near Bhongweni presented the city with serious challenges as people had built illegally on land earmarked for the airport’s expansion.
“Equally, those who built outside municipal permission on the outskirts of Qonce have presented us with similar challenges.
“Ideally, it is in our interest for such properties to be built in rural areas but it must be within regulations so that there is better spatial development planning.
“In both these areas, we have had to shift resources to manage the situation.
“It is not true that if people build in these areas they will be charged less.
“In fact, as the rezoning and property evaluation processes still have to be done, it can prove otherwise.
“There is no scientific evidence that proves BCM rates are higher than other metros. The cost of living is not determined by rates only.”
Ngwenya added: “Currently, the process of tariff increases for the new financial year is being undertaken.
“The draft IDP/budget was presented on Wednesday at a virtual councillors' workshop. It contains various options to enable council to make a resolution.
“By law, we cannot effect increments that are outside Nersa guidelines for electricity. Rates increments also have to take into account inflation and the Covid-19 situation.”
DispatchLIVE
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