Shack dwellers in Qandu Qandu informal settlement in Khayelitsha are unhappy and disillusioned by an empowerment initiative, the Umbane project, which is led by professors at the University of Cape Town and the University of Exeter.
Qandu Qandu, established in 2018 has about 5,000 shacks today, and no formal electricity. Kyle Cookson, of Eskom, said this is because the majority of the settlement is on wetlands and therefore cannot be electrified. The 31 women who signed up for the Umbane project had to buy solar-compatible fridges for R3,500, and pay R480 a month to run it.
The women also believed they would get start up funding for their solar-powered refrigeration businesses. Community leader Pamela Memani confirmed Mtshali’s statement about the funding. She said they submitted their business plans to Umbane and understood that funding would vary depending on the plan and what they intended to sell.
“Our offering is completely pay-as-you-go. Clients are not required to pay for any length of time. There are no long-term contracts,” he said.
Yeah Cape Town always finds innovative ways to screw over the poor people. Cape Town really needs the ANC, once the ANC takes over there will be meaningful change. Kick out all those rich Europeans steeling our beaches.