My heart is with the people

Sir,
The Glencoe community meeting held last Saturday was attended by many people, but had to be rescheduled due to the invited councillors not being able to attend. I had to explain to the people that the ward councillor was attending a funeral whist the Mayor was also busy with other commitments. 
I read out an SMS from Councillor Dhlamini in which he promised to convene a meeting himself. People were satisfied that I am not working on my own, but that I am doing so with the relevant councillors.
I must state very clearly that I am not after anybody’s job, but that my heart is with the people who need help. In the last two years before I left office we did a lot of groundwork to make sure that low cost housing developments and transfer of existing low cost houses to the rightful beneficiaries received priority.
We secured a meeting with the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Maggie Govender, and her Head of Department, Gabi Gumbi Masilela. All senior officials from the Department were present, as well as former Mayor Bongiwe Mbatha, former Speaker Mkhize and all ward councillors representing areas in which there were housing problems.
In the ANC we are trained to work night and day for our people. Special mention must be made of the role which was played by our then Constituency Member of Provincial Parliament Sipho KK Nkosi, who worked tirelessly to facilitate meetings with government and councillors to facilitate service delivery. Sometimes with his busy schedule, after attending meetings and other events, he would forget to communicate information to us, and he would so as soon as a remembered. 
The reason I am saying all this is that people are flocking to my house every single day with queries, and that is why I invited the ward councillor and Council leadership to come and explain. 
As far as title deeds were concerned, we discussed the issue in a lot of detail and the Department swung into action. They began processing and handing out title deeds, and I was heavily involved in this work.
At least 700 to 1 000 homeowners in Glencoe, Peacevale, Forestdale, Sibongile and Sithembile were left out due to administrative challenges. In 2013 Council gave me a three-month contract to complete the work. I convened a meeting with the Department, which was attended by Raj Naidoo in Richards Bay. 
I made a number of proposals on how to cut through the red tape. Mr Grisdale explained to me that several ANC councillors were against the idea of me working in the building. 
So every single day people meet me to ask what is happening with the title deeds and building of low cost houses for the poor. Poor people are suffering. People say things like, “My mother got the house 30 years ago, she died waiting to own the house, and I might also die before I get the house.”
Acting Municipal Manager Advocate Brijraj was briefed and requested that the acting CFO write to me in June to request a full report. The only reply I got verbally was that Mr Esterhuizen and Raj Naidoo reported to him that there were no outstanding title deeds. So that is the story, but I trust that councillor Dlamini and Council leadership will have more for the community. I remember the Department committing R100-million for housing developments for all wards, as per the approved IDP of the time. 
A special thank you to Mr Bash Khan and the SGB for arranging the school for the meeting. Mr Khan’s assistance and moral support is also appreciated.
Pravesh Bisram