GRASKOP – Since the initiation of the Chinese Housing project which was supposed to provide free shelter for unemployed residents of the area, it has caused nothing but dissatisfaction and frustration among local residents. Unfairness is at the heart of these residents’ loss of hope as they still didn’t get what they were promised.
Earlier this year, the Democratic Alliance (DA) requested a commission of investigation into this project and a resolution was passed by council to appoint the commission. To date, no investigation team has been appointed and no steps have been taken to address the ongoing problems. Numerous residents have expressed their dissatisfaction, and allegations of nepotism were levelled against the Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM) unit manager, Mr Kimmi Mashego and other committee members.
Lowvelder reported on the matter before and TCM then indicated that, although the project was part of its jurisdiction, “it wasn’t their problem”. It referred enquiries to the Department of Human Settlements, of which officials also stated it wasn’t their responsibility, and referred the paper back to TCM. The same enquiry was sent to the Office of the Premier, but up to today no response had been received.
According to an anonymous source, members of the housing committee and their relatives apparently benefit more from these houses than the unemployed community itself. According to the shortlist provided by the same source, 16 of these houses were allegedly allocated to relatives of Mashego and seven and five respectively to the relatives of the housing committee members. Apart from this, these houses are apparently being illegally sold for between R60 000 and R100 000.
According to Ms Babsie McNelly, chairman of the Graskop Business and Tourism Forum, this is becoming a grave concern to the safety of Graskop residents, as there is no control as to who resides at these houses at the moment. “How should we ever know that this is legal? No feasibility has ever been brought to the table,” adds McNelly.
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The shortlist created to fairly distribute these houses, states that 45 per cent of them must be allocated to the unemployed residents of Graskop Units, which translate to 77 houses. One of the committee members, Ms Amanda Dennison, apparently has four relatives on this list. Here, 13 Mashego’s are also listed as beneficiaries.
A further 35 per cent of the houses are to be allocated to the employed residents of Graskop earning more than R3 500, which translates to 60 houses. Here, three Dennison’s are listed.
Another five per cent of the houses, which translates to eight, has been allocated to employed residents in the Graskop zone namely Sabie, Pilgrim’s Rest and Moremela, but this is only for the disabled. As only four disabled qualified for this housing, the other four houses were allocated to the employed and unemployed categories. This list included a Mashego.
Ten per cent of the houses was allocated to the youth residing in Graskop, which translates to 17 houses. This includes five relatives of committee member, Ms Ell Terry and another two apparent relatives of Mashego.
According to the DA, the premier promised during the national election in May that these Chinese houses were to be handed out at no cost to members of the community. Due to the delay in convening the commission to investigate the infrastructure problems, these houses have now become the target of illegal land invasions, causing major frustration to members of the community. The DA requested that members from the ANC, DA, PAC (Pan Africanist Congress) and administration visit the project and report back with regards to:
• Sewerage: The overloaded sewerage plant which spills into the Mac-Mac natural water stream. Taking the RDP project into consideration and the influx of further usage, the overloaded sewerage plant will cause a health risk.
• Stormwater: The incomplete storm-water drainage infrastructure which flows into the nature reserve at Mogodi Lodge.
• Water: The problems with regards to the water supply and the upgrades necessary to ensure sustainable water supply to the houses.
• Electricity: The influence that the Chinese Housing and RDP projects would have on the current electricity usage and plant.
• Rubbish: In the contract of Chinese Housing it was clearly stated that these houses may not be allocated, if the rubbish dump site is not moved. It is too close to human activities and poses a health risk.
“This matter has been delayed for too long, and communities are suffering due to the negligence and total disregard for their needs,” says Dr Johan Ligthelm, DA constituency chairman of TCM.
Lowvelder attempted on numerous occasions to get comment with regards to the allegations of nepotism from Thaba Chweu Municipality. They never responded.
