Pretoria – All unoccupied and vandalised low-cost (RDP) houses will soon be repaired, completed and handed over to homeless and approved beneficiaries in Winterveldt.
The Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, made the announcement last night following a meeting with ward councillors in the area.
MEC Mamabolo also conducted a site visit in the vandalised and unallocated houses in Winterveldt.
He explained that the delay in the allocation of houses was due to the decommissioning of the old water pipe from the reservoir in the area. He said that a new line has since been built and bulk water supply has been restored, creating an immediate opportunity to connect water and allocate those houses.
“We will rectify and repair the balance of houses that were vandalised and unallocated. While the Provincial Department of Human Settlements and City of Tshwane take accountability for these houses, it still remains the responsibility of the local community to be vigilant and protect these communal assets as they are the immediate beneficiaries,” MEC Mamabolo said.
He has also instructed departmental officials to speed up the repairs of the vandalised houses.
MEC Mamabolo was on a one-day roadshow in Winterveldt and Soshanguve to meet councillors to discuss ways of resolving some problems affecting the delivery of houses. He held separate meetings with ward councillors from Winterveldt and Soshanguve respectively.
At both meetings, MEC Mamabolo instructed municipal and provincial housing officials to work out a quick turnaround strategy to fast track the delivery of houses.
“If we don’t arrest this situation and don’t change the way we do things, we are leaving ward councillors in a precarious and dangerous situation, where they take the blame for slow or non-delivery and end up being attacked.
“It is disappointing to hear that a house of a councillor was burnt and a number of councillors were assaulted by residents during a community meeting,” a concerned MEC Mamabolo said.
He also called for the formation of a task team to facilitate the sharing of information between ward councillors and departmental officials in order for residents to be updated about the progress in housing projects.
The MEC said the department would also use the services of a forensic company to audit housing waiting lists in the affected areas to ensure that houses are allocated to the right beneficiaries. – SAnews.gov.za
