ONCE again the controversial Mama's Housing Project is causing upheaval among residents in the area after another 20 "illegal wendy houses" were erected by fed up housing beneficiaries.
Earlier this year, 20 illegal dwellings were erected on the land earmarked for the project, between Lotus River and Pelican Park. People said at the time that they were erecting the dwellings as they were tired of waiting for houses after they had already paid money into the project.
It was alleged that 374 beneficiaries had paid money for houses, but the money has not been accounted for. It was also said that the last house was built two years ago. It was alleged that there was a possibility of fraud occurring and the project was stopped.
It was explained by Xolani Tyilani of the Western Cape Department of Local Government and Housing that after the news of the fraud allegations, the department intervened and commissioned an in-house investigation. During the investigation, the project's bank account was frozen.
The findings of the investigation resulted in the termination of the contract between the service provider, Mama's Housing Company, and the department. A meeting was arranged in April, at which the MEC for Local Government and Housing, Richard Dyantyi, met with the beneficiaries of the project.
It was reported to the beneficiaries that the department was taking over the project and that people would receive their houses, but it would be a "process, not an event".
However, five months later, people are still waiting for their houses. Desperation has risen and people have, of their own accord, moved onto the land earmarked for the housing project. Residents in the area are not happy with the current land invasion and although they have sympathy for these beneficiaries, they still believe that something needs to be done.
An Eagle Park resident, Ruwayda Mohamed, says she feels she, along with other residents in the area, was excluded from the initial process of Mama's Housing - "and it is happening again".
"So-called beneficiaries and the province are meeting to discuss housing right on our doorsteps, but we as ratepayers are excluded. The 'residents' are going to be part of our community and not the other way around." She says that she is aware that there is a shortage of houses, "but let us do it right this time".
"It is shocking to see the amount of shacks being erected illegally and the land invaders believe that it is their right, as they have made payment towards a house which is still to be built.
"When one erects a wendy house on your own property, then a certain procedure must be adhered to, followed by inspection, before it is approved. Why is the same procedure for the 'land invaders' not being applied?
"This exemption from documented procedures is prompting a whole new list of questions."
In an e-mail to Basil Lee, chairperson of Subcouncil 18 and ward councillor for the Pelican Park area, Ishmael Davids, chairperson of the Pelican Park Ratepayers and Residents Association, states, "The ward councillor and the Mayor are failing in their duty to act on municipal bylaws which clearly stipulate that the erection of wendy houses of acceptable standards has to be approved by the municipal office of the area".
"As Ratepayers in Ward 67 we are not allowed to erect any wendy houses on our own property unless approved by the municipality. The situation on the erven owned by the Western Cape Provincial Government is no different entity, but these laws are not applicable to them."
He explains that the erection of shacks and wendy houses on the erf in Pelican Park (Eagle Park) is illegal and they are "calling on the powers that be" to correct this situation.
Lee explains that he sent an e-mail to the land use department and they will now send out their inspectors.
"They will inspect the land and if they do not have plans for their wendy houses they will be summoned. I do not know how long this process will take."
According to a beneficiary and former executive member of the project, Ashraf Meiring, up until this point it was never revealed who in the organisation was guilty of fraud.
"Everything is hearsay. They can't tell us who the guilty parties are."
According to Meiring they were told that the project would take another five months before it is completed. - Peoples Post
Earlier this year, 20 illegal dwellings were erected on the land earmarked for the project, between Lotus River and Pelican Park. People said at the time that they were erecting the dwellings as they were tired of waiting for houses after they had already paid money into the project.
It was alleged that 374 beneficiaries had paid money for houses, but the money has not been accounted for. It was also said that the last house was built two years ago. It was alleged that there was a possibility of fraud occurring and the project was stopped.
It was explained by Xolani Tyilani of the Western Cape Department of Local Government and Housing that after the news of the fraud allegations, the department intervened and commissioned an in-house investigation. During the investigation, the project's bank account was frozen.
The findings of the investigation resulted in the termination of the contract between the service provider, Mama's Housing Company, and the department. A meeting was arranged in April, at which the MEC for Local Government and Housing, Richard Dyantyi, met with the beneficiaries of the project.
It was reported to the beneficiaries that the department was taking over the project and that people would receive their houses, but it would be a "process, not an event".
However, five months later, people are still waiting for their houses. Desperation has risen and people have, of their own accord, moved onto the land earmarked for the housing project. Residents in the area are not happy with the current land invasion and although they have sympathy for these beneficiaries, they still believe that something needs to be done.
An Eagle Park resident, Ruwayda Mohamed, says she feels she, along with other residents in the area, was excluded from the initial process of Mama's Housing - "and it is happening again".
"So-called beneficiaries and the province are meeting to discuss housing right on our doorsteps, but we as ratepayers are excluded. The 'residents' are going to be part of our community and not the other way around." She says that she is aware that there is a shortage of houses, "but let us do it right this time".
"It is shocking to see the amount of shacks being erected illegally and the land invaders believe that it is their right, as they have made payment towards a house which is still to be built.
"When one erects a wendy house on your own property, then a certain procedure must be adhered to, followed by inspection, before it is approved. Why is the same procedure for the 'land invaders' not being applied?
"This exemption from documented procedures is prompting a whole new list of questions."
In an e-mail to Basil Lee, chairperson of Subcouncil 18 and ward councillor for the Pelican Park area, Ishmael Davids, chairperson of the Pelican Park Ratepayers and Residents Association, states, "The ward councillor and the Mayor are failing in their duty to act on municipal bylaws which clearly stipulate that the erection of wendy houses of acceptable standards has to be approved by the municipal office of the area".
"As Ratepayers in Ward 67 we are not allowed to erect any wendy houses on our own property unless approved by the municipality. The situation on the erven owned by the Western Cape Provincial Government is no different entity, but these laws are not applicable to them."
He explains that the erection of shacks and wendy houses on the erf in Pelican Park (Eagle Park) is illegal and they are "calling on the powers that be" to correct this situation.
Lee explains that he sent an e-mail to the land use department and they will now send out their inspectors.
"They will inspect the land and if they do not have plans for their wendy houses they will be summoned. I do not know how long this process will take."
According to a beneficiary and former executive member of the project, Ashraf Meiring, up until this point it was never revealed who in the organisation was guilty of fraud.
"Everything is hearsay. They can't tell us who the guilty parties are."
According to Meiring they were told that the project would take another five months before it is completed. - Peoples Post
No comments:
Post a Comment