East families promised houses irked over unfulfilled promises
We are kept in the dark and no one is bothering to come and inform us what is happening.
A number of Nellmapius families have opened up about their disappointment at unfulfilled promises for RDP houses.
A woman (46) who wished to remain anonymous to protect her children said a contractor had told locals to demolish their shacks so RDP houses could be built for them, a promise yet to materialise.
She said she was on the verge of losing the custody of her two children to her former husband because of a lack of formal accommodation.
She said the court hearing would be on Friday.
She said had the contractor kept the promise, today, her two children would be with her instead of her ex-husband and his new wife.
She blamed the official who told her that the construction of her house had been approved after inspecting her ID.
Another upset resident Angelinah Busisiwe Ramoroka said she was also approached by an official who told her her house had been approved, also after inspecting her ID.
She said the woman told her last September, that her RDP house had been approved and she should make room on her stand for the house.
“Nothing has happened up to now.”
Ramoroka has lost count of the number of her visits to local councillor Joel Masilela’s the office about her problem.
She said she stopped going to the office after she told that the contractor “had left”.
Ramoroka said she registered for an RDP house in February 1999, and had first excited at the thought she was finally going to have her own house.
Both women said they had been kept in the dark as no one told them what was happening with the promised houses.
The De Bryun family also promised an RDP house, said they had been “living peacefully in our four-room asbestos house until we were told of the new house”.
They were told to demolish it to make room for the new house.
Husband, Jacob de Bryun said life was difficult and his family was “scattered all over” as a result.
His two sons, who were busy with examinations, were living with relatives.
“The cost of living is high because I have to send money for my children to eat. On the other hand my furniture is being damaged by the elements due to lack of proper shelter.”
De Bryun said he was heartbroken because the contractor was building RDP houses nearby while he remained excluded.
He also blamed the contractor’s staff for coming to his house to take pictures because this had persuaded him to demolish it.
De Bryun said the contractor had again promised the houses at a July meeting with the housing development agency.
“But I am still waiting.”
The contractor was yet to comment at the time of going to print.
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