DA wants clarity on premier’s pledges
"Premier Mabuza must stop acting as if municipalities are his own personal domain, and present the people of Graskop with a clear response to their housing needs.”
GRASKOP – The DA reacted to the recent promises of free housing and said that the premier Mr David Mabuza had to explain his promise to local residents that they would receive houses in return for votes during the 2014 election campaign, when in fact the houses were not the government’s to hand over in the first place.
“According to reports, the premier and former human settlements MEC Mr Andries Gamede promised residents during a public meeting on April 26 that they would receive 170 houses built by the Chinese government if they voted for the ANC. The premier’s remarks were highly irresponsible, and clearly a desperate attempt to woo DA voters in a DA ward.”
The party said this is evident, as in response to a DA question for oral reply in the Mpumalanga Legislature on August 7, 2012, former human settlements MEC Mr Siphosezwe Masango stated the houses were built as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Thaba Chweu Municipality(TCM) and the Chinese government.
“According to the memorandum 400 houses would be constructed, but this was amended to 170 when the municipality requested higher quality fixtures and fittings. The project would comprise low- and middle-income housing, which would see low-income units handed over to beneficiaries, while middle-income units would be sold to raise funds for further human settlement developments.
“The premier had no authority to make his promises on April 26, as neither his office, nor the Department of Human Settlements were parties to the memorandum, (as mentioned by MEC Masango) and now the municipality will suffer the loss of millions in potential income, and middle lower income people denied the opportunity to own property.”
It further stated that housing projects such as these were aimed at assisting citizens who worked, and earned too much to qualify for an RDP house, but too little to qualify for a commercial bond.
“The DA will write to the premier, human settlements MEC Ms Violet Siwela and Thaba Chweu mayor Mr Michael Ncongwane demanding the MoU be made public, as the people have the right to know the terms and conditions contained therein. Premier Mabuza must stop acting as if municipalities are his own personal domain, and present the people of Graskop with a clear response to their housing needs.”
