Residents of Zakariyya Park in the south of Johannesburg havevoiced strong opposition to the erection of shacks near their homes, with some threatening to block the Golden Highway on Monday in protest.
Residents argue that the shacks, just a kilometre from their properties, undermines the value of their homes and worsens existing service delivery issues. Many say they already face daily water cuts, which they link to the construction of RDP houses in the area 11 years ago.
We were able to accept the RDP houses, but not shacks, said one resident who declined to be named. Imagine waking up and finding shacks right across the road, in an area where we pay up to R30,000 a year in rates and taxes. This will drag the value of our homes straight into the mud.