At long last, Gogo Olina Theledi from Graskop in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has finally received her RDP house which was illegally occupied for two years. 55-year old Theledi moved back to her beautiful RDP after the illegal occupant vacated the house this morning (24 March 2015) following an intervention by the Department of Human Settlements. This incident happened when a group of invaders illegally moved to parts of the 2013 housing project immediately after completion in the area. The occupant who illegally occupied Gogo Theledi’s house was engaged by the department and the municipality and agreed to move out from the house. The delegation undertook a visit to the house (Stand 1081) and found that there is a lady occupying the house as confirmed by neighbours. It was established that the illegal occupant works at a local lodge which was subsequently visited to talk to her.
During the discussion, she acknowledged her wrong doing but charged that she also applied for a house but yet to be allocated one. Receiving her house keys, Ms Theledi couldn’t contain her emotion. “I almost lost hope that one day I will own a proper house, it is cold here and always drizzling but today I am going to sleep in a warm house” she said. She concluded by thanking the Department and the Acting Municipal Manager for their intervention. She was ushered into her house by Department’s Ehlanzeni District Head, Mr Roy Ledwaba, Councillor Rejoice Malatjie and some municipal officials. MEC Violet Siwela has urged members of the public who are on housing waiting lists to be patient and await their turn as projects are continuously being rolled out in municipalities. “The Department is doing all it can to ensure that communities are settled in an integrated sustainable manner by prioritising the elderly, people with disabilities and child-headed households in housing provision”, charged MEC Siwela. The Department is working closely with municipalities to ensure that such acts are tackled and further condemns the illegal occupation of government’s property including low cost houses (RDP) by errant community members. The project was delivered through the informal settlements upgrading programme.
Enquiries:
Freddy Ngobe
Tel: 013 766 6014
Cell: 082 859 4630
E-mail: flngobe@mpg.gov.za
