Tsalanang tenants worry about slow pace of investigation

eMBALENHLE – Members of the task team of the Tsalanang Residential Complex are worried about the slow pace of investigation by the public protector in handling their complaints regarding alleged unfair treatment by the Govan Mbeki Housing Company management.

They said several meetings were held between them and the company’s management, the public protector investigators and Govan Mbeki municipal officials, but without any positive outcome.

They lodged a complaint with the public protector in 2010 against unfair treatment concerning rent, illegal evictions, a lack of security, an alleged donation which the company received from donors from the Netherlands, poor maintenance, money deducted from tenants’ salaries without their consent, tenants being charged high rent irrespective of whether they earn above the stipulated bracket or not, and rent that differs from the same sized flats.

The company is managing the 192 flats.

The members said the case was closed without their knowledge, but it was reviewed and new complaints were added.

These are: charges that do not reflect on their lease agreements, rental increment without their consent, failure to get monthly statements and municipal services charged.

Ms Kgalalelo Masibi, spokesman for the public protector, said in May in the Echo that the decision was initially against the tenants, but the matter was reviewed.

She said new complaints will be assessed and tenants will be informed about their decision.

Ms Masibi also said the matter will be resolved through the alternative dispute resolution, namely negotiation, conciliation and mediation.

This is aimed at finding common ground between the tenants and the company’s management.

The members held their last meeting with all the parties involved last year and only received the minutes of the meeting through their lawyer on 13 February.

“We are interested in the public protector’s findings and not the minutes,” said Mr Mziwakhe Ntshalintshali, task team member.

The members still insist they want the municipality to take over the complex because the company had failed to run it.

This public protector informed the members that the company is regulated by the Social Housing Act of 2005 and it cannot help them with this issue.

They were advised to contact the Department of Human Settlement and the municipality.

Thee Echo contacted Ms Winnie Manyathela, representative of the Public Protector of Mpumalanga, about the recent development in the case on Monday, 17 February and she referred all queries to Ms Masibi.

Ms Masibi and Mr Oupa Segalwe, manager of Outreach and Communications of the public protector, were contacted for comment two weeks ago, but they did not respond.

The company said in the past the allegations made by the tenants are “unknown” to them.

The municipality said the company is a municipal entity, but a scheduled company under the Public Finance Management Act and it is the one that needs to respond to the allegations.