FREE CHINESE HOUSES FOR ANC VOTES

GRASKOP – “The people were promised houses in return for votes in favour of the ANC.”

About 170 two-bedroom houses which the Chinese government built, were supposed to ensure that the ruling party regain the majority of seats in town.

This, however, came backfired when Thaba Chweu Municipality’s (TCM) officials tried to sell the dwellings after the elections, and furious community members demanded what had been promised to them. According to a source, premier Mr David Mabuza and former human settlements MEC, Mr Andries Gamede committed at a community meeting on April 26, to give them houses free of charge.

The source told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that several people with “official” forms were sent to Graskop.

“They were told to fill in their details on the said documents. The promise made to the community was on condition that they vote for the ruling party. Now that the election is done and dusted, it is coming back to haunt them,” an ANC official told the paper.

Graskop has been a hot spot when the DA faired very well during a by-election in 2012. The opposition party made a strong showing in town during a 2012 by-election, cinching it from the ANC.

The houses constructed by the Chinese government for TCM would apparently be sold for approximately R155 000 each. These were equipped with security features, gardens, built-in cupboards, large geysers, fitted bathrooms and kitchens.

“Selling them at the said cost would ensure an income of about R26 million. This could of course have helped the already crippled municipality to pay service providers.”

The “free” houses now being sold were not the only issues that TCM were facing with the Chinese housing project.

On May 26, DA Cllr Johan Ligthelm sent a letter to the officials. “Referring to our council meetings of dated December 17, 2013 and April 16, 2014, we highlighted urgent issues regarding the project. The following were regarded as pressing matters and needed attention; due to the uncompleted infrastructure, all storm-water drainage flows into the nature reserve at Mogodi Lodge. Currently the sewerage plant is overloaded and spills into the Mac Mac natural water stream. Taking the RDP in consideration and with the influx of further usage of the overloaded plant, the result is a health risk. E. coli was measured in the stream at the Forest Waterfall and it is too high for human consumption,” it read.

Ligthelm also questioned whether there had been any investigation regarding future water problems and whether or not the Chinese housing and RDP would influence the current electricity usage and plant. “I firmly believe that prevention is better than cure. These matters should be a priority and your cooperation with the mayoral committee will be appreciated.”

He confirmed that as of yet, he has not received any feedback from council.

TCM responded to the questions posted about the free housing and said, “This matter is political and the municipality is not in a position to comment. We suggest that you contact the presidential office for more details. This is between the Chinese and South African governments, and it is the prerogative of the national and provincial state to decide whether it wants to sell the houses, or give them to community members. The premier did not commit to either option. There is a continuous engagement pertaining this issue between the municipality, and the provincial and national government.”

Ms Zibonele Mncwango, spokesman for the Office of the Premier did not respond to any of the questions, and the government could not be reached for comment.