29 November 2006
The tenants of all the flats that belong to the North West Housing
Corporation (NHWC) in Mafikeng have been given until Friday, 1 December 2006,
to pay the monies they owe NWHC before they can have their electricity and
water re-instated.
Addressing more than 200 tenants yesterday, North West MEC for Developmental
Local Government and Housing, Phenye Vilakazi, who was accompanied by NWHC
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pitso Tolo, assured them (tenants) that he would
plead with the Mayor of Mafikeng local municipality, Mosa Sejasengwe, to
re-instate the water and electricity supply to all the NWHC flats once the
tenants have paid their rental fees. Vilakazi has advised NWHC to open a new
bank account that the tenants must now use to deposit their outstanding rental
fees.
The Mafikeng municipality cut off water supply to all the NWHC flats two
months ago due to R20 million owed to it by the corporation. Vilakazi's meeting
with the tenants follows a memorandum that he received last week Thursday, 23
November 2006, in which they demanded:
* that they (tenants) be given first priority to purchase their flats
* immediate re-connection of basic services (i.e. water and electricity)
* correct monthly rental statements be issued out
* direct supply of electricity by Eskom
* installation of pre-paid water meters
* total disbandment of NWHC.
In an attempt to resolve the impasse between the tenants and NWHC, Vilakazi
advised the tenants to form co-operatives to buy the individual block of
flats.
Enquiries:
Mandla Mathebula
Tel: (018) 387 3813
Cell: 083 282 6133
Issued by: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North
West Provincial Government
29 November 2006
