Community members are upset that different beneficiary lists have apparently been drawn up.
RESIDENTS of Waterloo (Marikana) informal settlement marched to the Office of the Premier on Tuesday as they want Premier Zamani Saul to intervene in the housing development project that has become riddled with infighting over beneficiary lists.
Community members are upset that different beneficiary lists have apparently been drawn up.
“The second list contains the names of people who don’t even live in Marikana. Every year they tell us that there is no budget available for the houses and we have not seen any progress on site,” said angry community members who took part in the march.
Community representative Matthews Appie stated that the housing project in Waterloo and Riemvasmaak was approved in the 2014/15 financial year.
“The councillor said the plot was earmarked for only 235 sites although there are 500 people staying there. Screening was done to determine who qualified and all applications were approved,” said Appie. “Due to overcrowding more than 200 people had to be relocated to Lethabo Park from September 8.
“The ward councillor does not act on the decisions taken by the municipal officials and does not face any repercussions,” he added. “She was told not to relocate people to Lethabo Park with the use of her own transport but she is still continuing. Some of the people have been relocated to Lethabo Park with reference numbers even though they do not even stay in Marikana.”
Appie added that the electrification of the area should have been completed at the end of October.
“This deadline has passed and we still have no electricity. There appears to be intentions to destabilise the smooth running of the project because we are heading to the local government elections next year.”
A memorandum was handed over to the special adviser to the premier, Norman Shushu.
The Office of the Premier has been given seven days in which to respond to the community members’ grievances.
Appie indicated that if no action was taken, they would institute a motion of no confidence in the ward councillor.
