Nomangesi Mbiza
7 November 2008
About 100 residents of Gugulethu marched to the construction site of a new shopping mall on Thursday ment on the development.
They allege that Khayelitsha residents have been given jobs, while Gugulethu residents had been overlooked.
"We were told no-one from Gugulethu is working because we don't have the necessary skills," claimed Mncedisi Twalo, provincial chairperson of the Anti-Eviction Campaign.
The residents protested outside the site, demanding that residents be employed and be given a copy of the plans.
Developer Mzoli Ngcawuzele slammed the claims made by Twalo, saying people from Gugulethu were working there.
"We cannot employ 100 people when we need 20, and we have a plan that we follow," said Ngcawuzele.
The process of employing people used to be done weekly and was now done almost every day as the need arose.
"Each ward has a list of people to be employed. There are no shortcuts," he said.
A resident, Patric Ntlapo, said he was confused by the way the developers employed people on the site.
"The mall is being built in Gugulethu, for the people of Gugulethu. But people from other areas are employed," said Ntlapho.
When they started protesting, employees started sneaking out through back gates because they thought they were to be attacked, he said.
"We don't want to be violent and start beating people.
"All we want are jobs so we can provide for our families," he said.
Project committee member Nkosinati Caso, who is working on the site, said: "It is the first time there have been cranes in Gugulethu and we understand expectations are high."
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