Gadija Jaffer, a 98-year-old resident of Strandfontein, has been waiting for a house for over four decades. Born on 25 May 1928, Jaffer applied for a government home in 1968, but her application was reflected as 1998 on the City of Cape Town's system. She currently lives with one of her children, who cares for her due to her need for frail-care assistance. Jaffer's family disputes the City's claim that she and her daughter had previously benefited from a housing opportunity through an individual housing subsidy.
Jaffer's daughter, Sharifa Jaffer, 72, who cares for her mother, expressed disappointment with the City's stance on her mother's housing application. Sharifa questioned the City's claim that the property was allocated to another relative, one of her sisters. The family is seeking proof of ownership of a house given to Jaffer's daughter instead of her. Jaffer wants a two-bedroom house so she can live with her daughter, who looks after her.
The City of Cape Town has disputed Jaffer's claim, saying that she and her daughter had received a subsidy, but the registration was in her daughter's name, not hers. The City offered Jaffer accommodation at a pensioner's cottage, but she did not meet the criteria because she needs ongoing living assistance. The City's Human Settlements Department does not have an appropriate facility to satisfy Jaffer's needs.
Jaffer's family has been in contact with the City over the past year, and officials have tried to engage with them. The City's records indicate that Jaffer was originally registered on the City's Housing Needs Register on 1 August 1988. However, during a routine data-cleaning process in 2020, it was discovered that Jaffer and her daughter had previously benefited from a housing opportunity through an individual housing subsidy.
The City of Cape Town has explained that Jaffer's registration date was updated to 15 November 2012, reflecting her first renewed contact with the City after the sale of their property. The City's Housing Allocation Policy ensures fair access to housing opportunities for qualifying beneficiaries. Jaffer's application will remain active on the City's Housing Needs Register and continue to be considered for future rental housing opportunities.
Jaffer is now asking Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to personally pay her a visit to sort out her housing issue. She said she refused to cast her vote in this year's local government election because she was tired of waiting for a house that was never delivered. Jaffer's parents lived to be more than 100, and she is the sole survivor of 15 siblings.
The City of Cape Town has stated that it will continue to consider Jaffer's application for priority housing, but it cannot accommodate persons requiring ongoing living assistance in its pensioners' cottages. The Western Cape Government's Social Development office had also liaised with Jaffer's family about her accommodation in February this year, but the family does not want any assistance through Elderly Persons Programmes offered by the Department of Social Development.
Key points
- 98-year-old Gadija Jaffer has been waiting for a house for over four decades.
- The City of Cape Town disputes Jaffer's claim, citing a previous housing subsidy.
- Jaffer is seeking help from Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to resolve her housing issue.
