Late Nights withSara-Jayne King

Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille met with Imizamo Yethu community leaders on Monday night to find ways to resolve community grievances.

The residents of Imizamo Yethu took to the streets over the weekend demanding proper housing from the City after Cape fires destroyed their homes in March.

The Mayor condemned violent protests which entered into a third day on Monday saying criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.

To date, R154 million has been spent on re-blocking the area to allow for space in between the structures so to avoid future fires, she says.

The re-blocking process was delayed due to procurement processes being slow, says de Lille.

Read: Imizamo Yethu leaders meet Mayor de Lille, calls for calm in IY

The criminals involved have destroyed all the equipment of the civil company and that is going to delay the project further.

— Patricia de Lille, Executive Mayor for the City of Cape Town

If the violence continues, the City will have no choice but to withdraw from there.

— Patricia de Lille, Executive Mayor for the City of Cape Town

The mayor says a further delay was caused by the communication breakdown between the City and community leaders. That has been resolved and clear channels of communication have been established.

She says that the community committee will start moving people from the sports grounds to the demarcated area and building materials will be provided by the City.

Read: Still no sign of Mayor de Lille to address Hout Bay residents - community leader

From the City we are happy and the community leaders are happy as well that together we will be able to find long lasting solutions.

— Patricia de Lille, Executive Mayor for the City of Cape Town

Community leader Lungisa Bezile says he is happy that there are measures in place to fast track the re-blocking process.

He says those involved in criminal behaviour, destroying and vandalising property should be investigated and be brought to book.

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