 | Drakenstein Municipality declares New Orleans Park unsafe due to adverse weather conditions
31 August 2022 | Press Releases |
Drakenstein Municipality, in conjunction with the Cape Winelands District Municipality, has declared New Orleans Park in Paarl East unsafe to live in due to adverse weather conditions. Currently families who had been evicted earlier from the "Blou Huis" are living in the Park.
Last night (30 August 2022) strong inland winds caused five trees to fall and two of the structures and their contents here were severely damaged. While no injuries relating to the weather conditions were reported to the Municipality, the affected areas were evacuated in the interest of the evictees' safety and as a precautionary measure.
The Municipality's disaster management and human settlements teams assisted the affected 34 persons to move to safer areas, while three Drakenstein Mayoral Committee Members and senior management of the Municipality were also at the scene.
The affected women and children were accommodated in the Groenheuwel Library hall in Paarl last night, while the men opted to remain at New Orleans Park to take care of their belongings.
No injuries relating to the strong winds were reported.
It must be made clear that New Orleans Park was never intended to be the evictees' permanent residence, but temporary accommodation following their eviction.
BACKGROUND
This group of residents, known as the “Blou Huis” group, was evicted from a farm in Drakenstein in 2016. This followed a court order brought by the owner of the farm on which they were staying.
Drakenstein Municipality did not evict the group. The Municipality’s role in evictions is merely to provide evictees with temporary emergency housing, if so ordered by the court.
At the time of the “Blou Huis” group’s eviction, Drakenstein Municipality’s emergency housing site, Schoongezicht, was not ready for occupation. The Municipality therefore provided the group – approximately 60 households – with temporary alternative accommodation in the New Orleans Park resort in Paarl East.
The Municipality was fully aware that this situation was not ideal – not for the evictees, neither for the surrounding communities. It was, however, a temporary arrangement and the best temporary alternative accommodation option at that stage. At this time in 2016, the head of each “Blou Huis” household signed an agreement to the effect that their relocation to New Orleans Park was an interim measure until the completion of the Schoongezicht site.
While the Municipality prepared the Schoongezicht site – for the “Blou Huis” evictees as well as other groups – a part of this site was invaded by backyard dwellers residing in the surrounding communities. Municipal officials had to intervene and restore peace before any moves could take place – in the interest of the safety of people, of their property, and of municipal infrastructure.
In the meanwhile, the Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, Mayoral Committee Members and officials constantly updated the “Blou Huis” evictees on the latest developments, meeting with them, and taking them on a site visit to Schoongezicht to view their new temporary housing.
At this time, residents of the surrounding neighbourhood closest to New Orleans Park started to indicate that they were unhappy with the evictees living in the resort and according to them, the occupation of the resort has led to the devaluation of their properties. They further mentioned that a solution must urgently be found, because crime had increased since the occupation of the resort by the evictees.
In September 2021, the Schoongezicht site was ready for occupation and Drakenstein Municipality issued a letter to each “Blou Huis” household, informing them of their proposed relocation date (22 September 2021) and inviting them to come and complete the required documents. Their move to the identified emergency housing site would have been in line with the court order of 2016 and subsequent agreements.
At the Schoongezicht site, the Municipality is offering each “Blou Huis” household a 6m x 4m structure on a fully serviced erf, which includes water and ablution facilities, electricity, tarred roads, wheelie bins and street lights.
When the Municipality showed representatives of the “Blou Huis” evictees their new accommodation at Schoongezicht, they were initially very impressed. However, third parties with particular agendas started to interfere and influence these evictees to remain in the resort, encouraging them to make various demands for formal housing. This has been incredibly unfair towards the evictees who have been waiting patiently for a better life in their new accommodation. Such continuing exploitation can only disadvantage them.
On 17 March 2022, the Municipality again issued a letter to each “Blou Huis” household which was hand delivered, informing them of the accommodation available for them in Schoongezicht and the relocation arrangements that had been made for them. They had three days in which to respond, which they failed to do. Legal action was therefore instituted.
To summarise, Drakenstein Municipality has repeatedly offered alternative accommodation to New Orleans Park to the “Blou Huis” evictees. While some households have made use of the offer, others appear to still be deceived and exploited by third parties and therefore keep on settling for the less-than-ideal living conditions of New Orleans Park.
The legal process to relocate the remaining “Blou Huis” evictees continues and the Municipality is awaiting a court date.
Since last night the Municipality's disaster management, fire services and electro-technical teams have been dealing with numerous reported fallen trees, damaged houses and structures, a fire, and multiple power cable and poles that were damaged by the wind.
Every incident that was reported to the Municipality, is being attended to.
Should any resident want to report an incident, they are encouraged to call 080 131 3553 toll free (all hours) or use our SeeClickFix app.
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
