Pretoria – North West MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine, has ordered an audit of illegal occupants who are staying in the newly built low cost houses at Monakato village, outside Rustenburg.
The audit follows concerns raised by residents about high illegal occupation in Slovo Extension two and three. According to residents, the illegal occupation is a result of favouritism by a former councillor.
During a recent meeting held at Monakato community hall, residents told MEC Maine that some houses in 514 housing unit project were given to friends and relatives of the former councillor.
Residents alleged that the occupants do not appear on the list and that some houses were sold at R300 to some people.
They also alleged that the local councillor occupies a house, which was allocated to an older person in the area.
MEC Maine warned that all illegal occupants will have to make way for the rightful owners of the houses. He announced that the department is going to audit the municipal and the provincial list of the beneficiaries in order to get to the bottom of this.
“Those that appear on the provincial list are those that are supposed to occupy the houses because if they can’t, they will never get the houses as their names already appear on the provincial list. No nurses or police officers must stay in those houses because they do not qualify,” said MEC Maine.
The audit team, which is expected to start the investigation today, will also investigate allegations on the illegal sale of houses.
Meanwhile, the department has instructed the contractor to repair mistakes discovered in some houses. These include the malfunctioning of sewer systems.
Currently, about 166 more houses are to be built in the area.
“As per our focus on Villages, Township and Small Dorpies (VTSD), in all the projects, local people must be hired so that we impart important construction skills to local communities. By doing so, we will be creating employment opportunities and ensuring the economic growth which will decrease poverty and unemployment,” said MEC Maine. – SAnews.gov.za
