‘Housing mandate to expedite RDPs’
Seshego residents who have been on the RDP waiting list, since 2006 says the Level Two Housing Implementation Accreditation Protocol brings hope.
POLOKWANE – The mandate to oversee housing and human settlement matters independently, is among the recent achievements of the Polokwane Municipality in 2024.
The duty, previously held by the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) means delivery on low-cost housing such as Reconstruction Development Programme (RDP) houses that can be expedited, according to municipal spokesperson Matshidiso Mothapo.
“The partnership enhances municipal capacity and enables us to implement development plans according to human settlements and housing.”
Earlier this month, the municipality and department signed an agreement of the Level Two Housing Implementation Accreditation Protocol.
The accord was signed by provincial departmental head, Dr Modjadji Malahlela and the city’s municipal manager, Thuso Nemugumoni.
Coghsta will avail the budget in advance, and the municipality will have time to plan and approve its projects and ensure implementation. The department, however, still plays a monitoring role, and therefore, on agreed intervals, the municipality will be reporting on the performance and progress made in implementing approved projects.
“Priority areas will be taken care of directly with the municipality without further referral to Coghsta,” Mothapo added. Seshego residents who have been on the RDP waiting list, some since 2006, say this brings hope.
A few weeks into the new year, many applicants visited the Itsoseng Housing Centre after a link directing them to the National Housing Department’s website was circulated on social media, showing that some houses had been ready for occupation. Some told BONUS that their houses were found dilapidated and others occupied.
Mothapo said in the case of untraceable beneficiaries who then present themselves after some time has elapsed and they find their properties damaged, will have to do repairs from their own pockets.
“There is no money reserved to repair such houses. When an unlawful dweller renovated the property which they do not have the right to, they do so at their own risk and the beneficiary has the right to pursue legal action,” Mothapo mentioned.
In recent times, council expressed an interest to reallocate low-cost houses belonging to 17 untraceable beneficiaries in the extensions and 9L. Further efforts to trace them were underway.
