Eastern Cape municipalities asked to re allocate houses not occupied by approved beneficiaries
Approved housing beneficiaries whose completed houses remain un-occupied for several months will have their houses re allocated to other qualifying beneficiaries if they don’t occupy those houses, this is one of the decisions taken by the meeting between Eastern Cape for Human Settlements Helen Sauls-August and members of mayoral committees (MMC’s) from the district municipalities and the two Metropolitan.
The meeting was held to assess progress made on Human Settlements delivery across municipalities in the province. Municipalities in the province are struggling to trace beneficiaries whose houses have been completed. Many of these houses stay vacant for lengthy periods and are being vandalised. The housing backlog is at estimated to be over five hundred thousand in the Province.
“Today we have given municipalities a go ahead to undertake a beneficiary de-registration processes before allocating houses to other beneficiaries. Public Notices must be done first before the actual de-registration. This is to ensure that houses are not left unoccupied for longer periods while there are people in need of houses,” said MEC Helen Sauls-August on the conclusion of the meeting in East London.
While the human settlement delivery is progressing well, the MEC is still concerned about challenges that stifle human settlements development in the municipalities. Some of these include:
- Corruption on the housing list which has become a contentious issue communities. Sadly this illegal manipulation has on many occasion manipulated deserving beneficiary from getting houses.
- Illegal invasion of municipal land and in most cases where there is already plan for human settlements development in the areas.
- Land Claims in municipal land we there is currently human settlements development or land earmarked for development. We have seen such cases in KSD, Tsolo, Elliot Dale and most recently Dutywa. In some of these areas there is human settlements development
The department is also currently assisting municipalities to revive the housing allocations committee to facilitate a fair, transparent and inclusive selection for all housing development projects undertaken through Integrated Residential Development Programme.
On the issue of illegal sales and occupation, the department will continue to roll out the Beneficiary Correct Occupation Programme with prioritisation of the 2 Metropolitan Municipalities. The programme is designed to ensure that rightful beneficiaries occupy their homes.
Enquiries:
Lwandile Sicwetsha
Cell: 071 671 1770
