A MEETING between Western Cape MEC for human settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, and Samora Machel residents turned ugly when residents accused him of ignoring backyarders.
Madikizela met residents on Monday to report back on a survey conducted by the department last August in Samora Machel.
The door-to-door survey was meant to find out if all occupants of council houses in the area were the rightful title holders.
"During the survey, we found that were people who sold their houses while others rented them out," he said.
But Madikizela conceded that the survey was not entirely accurate since some people didn't want to participate.
About 4,139 houses participated in the survey, 197 didn't want to participate, 330 had nobody at home when surveyors visited, 306 had been rented out while 185 people in rented houses didn't want to give out the names of homeowners.
Madikizela said some people who didn't want to give information about the homeowners might be occupying those houses illegally.
"In 2002 the government took a decision that the houses could only be sold after eight years. But that law doesn't apply here because it was an old project," he said.
Resident Nico Mzalisi accused Madikizela of not having a plan for informal residents and backyard dwellers.
"You knew from the beginning when you took office that informal settlements and backyard dwellers are on the agenda. But it seems you don't have a plan for us," he shouted.
Nceba Tshanda accused the MEC of being a puppet of the Democratic Alliance.
"You (Madikizela) are here only for election campaigns. Stop making fools of us," an angry Tshanda said.
- Sowetan
Madikizela met residents on Monday to report back on a survey conducted by the department last August in Samora Machel.
The door-to-door survey was meant to find out if all occupants of council houses in the area were the rightful title holders.
"During the survey, we found that were people who sold their houses while others rented them out," he said.
But Madikizela conceded that the survey was not entirely accurate since some people didn't want to participate.
About 4,139 houses participated in the survey, 197 didn't want to participate, 330 had nobody at home when surveyors visited, 306 had been rented out while 185 people in rented houses didn't want to give out the names of homeowners.
Madikizela said some people who didn't want to give information about the homeowners might be occupying those houses illegally.
"In 2002 the government took a decision that the houses could only be sold after eight years. But that law doesn't apply here because it was an old project," he said.
Resident Nico Mzalisi accused Madikizela of not having a plan for informal residents and backyard dwellers.
"You knew from the beginning when you took office that informal settlements and backyard dwellers are on the agenda. But it seems you don't have a plan for us," he shouted.
Nceba Tshanda accused the MEC of being a puppet of the Democratic Alliance.
"You (Madikizela) are here only for election campaigns. Stop making fools of us," an angry Tshanda said.
- Sowetan
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