Flat beneficiaries demand electricity

Four months later, and 37 family flat unit beneficiaries in Mamelodi East say they are still waiting for electricity meter boxes to be installed in their flats.

The beneficiaries live in the flat units in Mamelodi ext. 5, next to the Matimba Sinqobile Integrated Centre.

They claim electricians contracted by the Tshwane metro to install electricity meter boxes didn’t install the meters at the flats.

The aggrieved residents claimed that the electricians told them they would not install meters at their flats because, according to the electricians, the residents’ names didn’t appear on the metro’s housing settlement database.

“The flats are freezing cold without electricity this winter,” said resident Bonnie Makunyane (45).

Makunyane lives with her 25-year-old wheelchair-bound son in the flats.

She claimed she was told by officials installing electricity at the flats that they will not install electricity for her because it appears that she has an RDP house under her name in Nellmapius.

“I don’t have an RDP house; it’s a family house, which is why I have applied for my own RDP housing,” said Makunyane.

“Every day is a struggle with my son because he needs to be kept warm since this cold weather is bad for his health.

“He had to undergo several operations after a car accident which left him in a wheelchair.”

Another resident, Rich Chauke (56), who is disabled also has to cope without any electricity this winter.

Chauke said he has been pleading with the metro to get a flat on the ground floor since last year.

“Dealing with the stairs is just too much for my health,” he told Record.

“Every day is a battle to climb the stairs to my first floor flat.”

He has been to the Mini Munitoria to complain, but said the officials there “always chase him away”.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro would need a full list of all complainants so that it can address these issues.

“The city will need the names and surnames of the beneficiary, unit and ID number to start with the investigation on the electricity issue,” Mashigo said.

“Residents need to know it is going to be a tedious process as it will entail investigation of each case based on its merit.

“As for the mother of the wheelchair-bound son it would really help if we had more details so it can be investigated,” said Mashigo.

He said the Mamelodi ext. 5 RDP walk-ups were built by the metro and allocated during the third quarter of 2019/20.

READ MORE: Several private sector vaccine sites in Pretoria closed for fear of looting

“These units are for ownership against approved housing subsidies,” said Mashigo.

“This means that once beneficiaries are allocated, they cannot be moved as units are attached to an approved subsidy.”

All beneficiaries are required to sign acceptance for their units, he added.

“Mr Chauke did not indicate on his housing subsidy application forms that he is disabled.

“A medical doctor must complete appendix I to indicate the nature of his disability. The beneficiary did not include the completed forms in his application. Therefore, he was allocated a unit on the first floor, because he did not fall under the special case categories.”

He pleaded with people in similar circumstances to ensure that all documentation is correctly completed.

“Their disabilities or medical conditions must be disclosed on the housing subsidy application form to ensure that these matters are dealt with appropriately.”

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram