The Munsieville Extension 5 project was initiated during the 2009/ 2010 financial year but until today nothing is happening. At every Integrated Development Plan (IDP) session, promises are made but never met. As residents of Munsieville, we had high hopes when the government told us about the upcoming housing development in Extension 5 but until today only slabs which were supposed to be foundations were laid. The only development happening there is the changing of the name from Extension 5 to now being called Munsieville Extension 9. What a joke.
There’s still a high number of people staying in the squatter camps in Munsieville and also those who are renting back rooms, with young adults also choosing to stay with parents as they can’t afford a bond. People would be happy to own their own homes, but it seems once again, like always, Munsieville is not being taken seriously and the provincial government, together with the local government, has given up on us.
Most of the youth and young adults in Munsieville are working, but do not qualify for a bond or even RDP houses. I believe it’s time those stands should be sold to those who want to buy and build. Not everyone wants to rely on government for housing, but if we could be sold those stands we would be able to build our own homes and that would also reduce the number of people waiting for RDP houses.
This election year, the local government, as well as the provincial government, should take us seriously and put the people’s interests first. It’s time the youth who are working and willing to buy are given the chance to buy and build for themselves.
We are tired of these empty promises.
