Where has the R900 000 disappeared to?
An amount of R900 000, which was supposedly to be used for reticulation purposes, was unaccounted for.
EMJINDINI – For almost five years, residents of Extension 14 in Emjindini, especially the wheelchair-bound, have been stuck in muddy streets when it rains, and in inaccessible houses that have no running water and lack sewerage systems.
An amount of R900 000, which was supposedly to be used for reticulation purposes, was unaccounted for. The contractor, who is only identified as Nombuso of Yami Construction, apparently told community members that she had returned the money to the Department of Human Settlements because at the time the homes had been completed, the municipality had not installed bulk services. As a result, the water and sewer connections to the houses were not done.
Construction of the 100 homes, all part of the People’s Housing Programme, started in 2007 and was successfully built in 2008. Out of the 100, 19 were allocated to disabled people. And according to the recipients, when the homes were allocated to them, they were supposed to be fully installed with electricity, running water and a sewerage system. However, that was not the case. Since 2008, the public, especially the disabled, had been struggling to get the Umjindi Municipality and human settlements to install the bulk services.
“The contractor told us that she had returned the money to the department.
“We have tried to engage with department officials, including those of Umjindi, but to no avail. We were told that, when the money was returned, it was used for other purposes. But we have no proof of that,” said Collen Sengwayo.
It was alleged that R9 000 was budgeted for each unit to install the bulk infrastructure. The disabled were the ones who battled a lot as they were forced to travel long distances to fetch water. “It’s a struggle here. The houses are inaccessible for wheelchairs.
“The big question is why didn’t the department and the municipality see to it that the contractor built them according to the needs of our various disabilities because they knew about us coming here,” said Aaron Nkambule who is wheelchair-bound.
Nombuso declined to comment on the matter. As things stood, it seemed as if residents would have to struggle for another year. According to Freddy Ngobe, human settlements spokesman, the department would only allocate a budget to do connections in 2014.
“The department allocated 100 houses to the Umjindi Local Municipality in 2007, that were successfully completed in 2008. At the time of construction, the municipality had not installed bulk services (sewer and water services) hence the connections to the homes were not done.”It has since confirmed the installation of bulk services in 2013 and will subsequently allocate a budget to do so in 2014,” said Ngobe.
