Premier and
MEC continue to make housing promises they cannot deliver on
Note to editors: Anthony
Benadie MPL, Leader of the Official Opposition, to the Mpumalanga
Hon Speaker, we in the DA are extremely concerned at media reports
that premier Mabuza and former Human Settlements MEC, Andries Gamede made
promises to residents of Graskop that they would receive free houses in return
for voting for the ANC.
According to these reports, the promise made during a public
meeting on April 26 and relates to 170 houses built by the Chinese government.
However on 7 August 2012, former human settlements MEC, Siphosezwe
Masango, stated in this house, that the houses built as part of a memorandum of
understanding between the Thaba Chweu municipality and the Chinese government.
It envisaged that the project, funded by the Chinese government
would see low and middle income housing, with low income units handed over to
beneficiaries, while middle income units sold to raise funds for further human
settlement developments.
At no stage was the premier, MEC or provincial government involved
in this project and premier Mabuza had no authority to make these ANC election
promises on April 26.
As a result, residents are now demanding that the premier’s
promise fulfilled and that houses handed over free of charge. If these houses
are delivered in this manner, the already cash strapped municipality will
suffer the loss of millions in potential income, denying residents with
legitimate expectations of owning their own house, the opportunity to own
property.
The premier has acted beyond his jurisdiction and coupled to the
inability of the Thaba Chweu municipality to effectively administer a housing
beneficiary waiting list, chaos will ensue about who the rightful beneficiaries
of these houses actually are.
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