ANGRY Nyanga residents have accused Western Cape housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela of "forcing" people to join the DA if they want to benefit from a new housing project.
But Madikizela described the allegations as "really shocking" and said the residents must provide proof.
"I would never say something like that," he said.
The furore erupted this week after 10 residents from the Mpetha Square informal settlement told Sowetan that they had been billed for services and given title deeds for new houses in the Mpetha Square phase one housing development, but were now not permitted to move in.
The 58-house development is still unoccupied and some of the houses have been vandalised.
The group said Madikizela suddenly decided last week to allocate 50percent of the houses to "backyarders" from the Zwelitsha informal settlement who had recently joined the DA.
Zodwa Ndlovu, who has been evicted twice after moving into one of the houses, told Sowetan: "We are not interested in politics. All we want are houses. We will not join the DA to get houses.
"Getting only 50percent of the houses was never discussed with us. These houses belong to the people of Mpetha Square informal settlement."
Sowetan reported last December that DA councillor Steven Vuba had personally evicted Ndlovu, accusing her of getting the house "unofficially".
Nothobile Willie showed Sowetan a bill for services, though she has not yet moved into her house.
"Look, we are paying for the unoccupied houses. How unfair is that?" She said because they were already paying for the houses, some of her group became impatient and forced their way in twice, but were evicted.
Madikizela told Sowetan that he had announced seven months ago that 50percent of the houses would be given to backyarders.
"That piece of land was initially earmarked for backyarders. I decided to take the plight of the backyarders seriously ... We needed to prioritise both the groups on a 50-50 basis," he said.
"That land belongs to the government and we will use that land in order to make sure that everyone benefits fairly. Nobody had a problem when we made that decision seven months ago."
Madikizela said there were very old people living in backyards around Nyanga who had never benefitted from any housing project.
"We cannot continue prioritising people who live in shacks every time there is a project," Madikizela added.
The Mpetha Square housing project has been shrouded in controversy for some time. Last month, about 60 Zwelitsha backyarders visited the site to complain that the houses had been poorly built.
Backyard dweller Yoliswa Mriba complained that they had never been consulted about the development.
- Sowetan
But Madikizela described the allegations as "really shocking" and said the residents must provide proof.
"I would never say something like that," he said.
The furore erupted this week after 10 residents from the Mpetha Square informal settlement told Sowetan that they had been billed for services and given title deeds for new houses in the Mpetha Square phase one housing development, but were now not permitted to move in.
The 58-house development is still unoccupied and some of the houses have been vandalised.
The group said Madikizela suddenly decided last week to allocate 50percent of the houses to "backyarders" from the Zwelitsha informal settlement who had recently joined the DA.
Zodwa Ndlovu, who has been evicted twice after moving into one of the houses, told Sowetan: "We are not interested in politics. All we want are houses. We will not join the DA to get houses.
"Getting only 50percent of the houses was never discussed with us. These houses belong to the people of Mpetha Square informal settlement."
Sowetan reported last December that DA councillor Steven Vuba had personally evicted Ndlovu, accusing her of getting the house "unofficially".
Nothobile Willie showed Sowetan a bill for services, though she has not yet moved into her house.
"Look, we are paying for the unoccupied houses. How unfair is that?" She said because they were already paying for the houses, some of her group became impatient and forced their way in twice, but were evicted.
Madikizela told Sowetan that he had announced seven months ago that 50percent of the houses would be given to backyarders.
"That piece of land was initially earmarked for backyarders. I decided to take the plight of the backyarders seriously ... We needed to prioritise both the groups on a 50-50 basis," he said.
"That land belongs to the government and we will use that land in order to make sure that everyone benefits fairly. Nobody had a problem when we made that decision seven months ago."
Madikizela said there were very old people living in backyards around Nyanga who had never benefitted from any housing project.
"We cannot continue prioritising people who live in shacks every time there is a project," Madikizela added.
The Mpetha Square housing project has been shrouded in controversy for some time. Last month, about 60 Zwelitsha backyarders visited the site to complain that the houses had been poorly built.
Backyard dweller Yoliswa Mriba complained that they had never been consulted about the development.
- Sowetan
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