ALTHOUGH building started on the Ithembalabantu housing project in Makhaza on Thursday last week after weeks of protest, Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela has put it on hold again.
The 163-unit housing project has been the subject of protests for weeks as backyarders in the area claim they were bumped off the beneficiary list.
A High Court instruction on Wednesday last week, made when ward councilor Danile Khatshwa was brought before the court on charges of instigating the protests, forbidding anyone to hinder the development, meant workers started digging foundation trenches on Thursday.
But now the MEC himself has halted the work.
Speaking in Makhaza on Sunday, Madikizela said he was ordering a halt to the development in order to investigate the allegations of corruption made by the backyarders.
He said he would go examine the original beneficiary list and take action against those who stood to occupy state houses illegally.
“I am still following the allegations of corruptin, we have the list of original beneficiaries since 2004. I’ll go door to door, each and every site,” he said.
The meeting, which took place in an open field in Makhaza, was attended by over 200 people.
At first backyarders heckled Madikizela, calling him a liar, but quietened down when they heard what he had to say.
The backyarders accuse previous ward councillor Thobile Ludidi of selling their plots to outsiders.
Resident Mbulelo Mkhumelwana accused Madikizela and DA MP Masizole Mnqasela of dividing the community. “You only interfere when it’s suit you,” said Mkhumelwana.
Resoident Primrose Merhani, agreed with Mkhumelwana. She said Mnqasela had been addressing meetings and telling people they would get houses.
“We’re tired of corruption in Makhaza. We want the project to stop until the investigation is finalised. I been living in a shack since 1992, and my house is leaking.”
Madikizela admitted to the crowd that political issues divided leaders and stood in the way of effective service delivery. However, political differences would be “put aside” to “face corruption”, he said.
He urged anyone with proof of corruption regarding the housing project to produce it.
— WestCape News
The 163-unit housing project has been the subject of protests for weeks as backyarders in the area claim they were bumped off the beneficiary list.
A High Court instruction on Wednesday last week, made when ward councilor Danile Khatshwa was brought before the court on charges of instigating the protests, forbidding anyone to hinder the development, meant workers started digging foundation trenches on Thursday.
But now the MEC himself has halted the work.
Speaking in Makhaza on Sunday, Madikizela said he was ordering a halt to the development in order to investigate the allegations of corruption made by the backyarders.
He said he would go examine the original beneficiary list and take action against those who stood to occupy state houses illegally.
“I am still following the allegations of corruptin, we have the list of original beneficiaries since 2004. I’ll go door to door, each and every site,” he said.
The meeting, which took place in an open field in Makhaza, was attended by over 200 people.
At first backyarders heckled Madikizela, calling him a liar, but quietened down when they heard what he had to say.
The backyarders accuse previous ward councillor Thobile Ludidi of selling their plots to outsiders.
Resident Mbulelo Mkhumelwana accused Madikizela and DA MP Masizole Mnqasela of dividing the community. “You only interfere when it’s suit you,” said Mkhumelwana.
Resoident Primrose Merhani, agreed with Mkhumelwana. She said Mnqasela had been addressing meetings and telling people they would get houses.
“We’re tired of corruption in Makhaza. We want the project to stop until the investigation is finalised. I been living in a shack since 1992, and my house is leaking.”
Madikizela admitted to the crowd that political issues divided leaders and stood in the way of effective service delivery. However, political differences would be “put aside” to “face corruption”, he said.
He urged anyone with proof of corruption regarding the housing project to produce it.
— WestCape News
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