Howell Estate residents protest to keep their homes

Howell Estate residents protest to keep their homes

Angry residents of Howell Estate in Sydenham's Howell Road outside Durban have until tomorrow to pay R1800 or vacate their homes. 

Howell Estate residents in Sydenham must R1800 before the end of today or vacate houses
Chanelle Lutchman

A committee member at the estate says 35 families have been living at the estate owned by First Metro Housing Company for over a decade. 


This resident feels they should have taken ownership of their homes by now believing they were RDP houses.


"Out of ignorance and desperation, we didn't have legal advice or a professional person to advice us as to what we are involving ourselves with. So we signed the lease agreement unaware that the lease agreement is going to bind us at this stage," he said.


Residents say they're waiting for officials from the Department of Human Settlements to address them. 


They say they'll intensify their protest if their demands are not met. 


The First Metro Housing Company's website says the type of tenure at Howell Road is purely a rental project.

Howell Estate residents in Sydenham must R1800 before the end of today or vacate houses
Chanelle Lutchman
Howell Estate residents in Sydenham must R1800 before the end of today or vacate houses
Chanelle Lutchman
Howell Estate residents in Sydenham must R1800 before the end of today or vacate houses
Chanelle Lutchman
Howell Estate residents in Sydenham must R1800 before the end of today or vacate houses
Chanelle Lutchman

(Photos: Chanelle Lutchman)

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