Mpumalanga’s MEC for Human Settlement, Speedy Mashilo, said his department will begin developing the Ext 8, Goedehoop land portion 2 that belongs to the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
He said this during his visit to the area on Tuesday, March 22 where he met with the community at the Leandra Taxi Rank.
Mashilo said the land portion will give them 3 365 stands and he told the municipality to give 1 500 thereof to government officials like police, teachers and others who can afford to build their own houses.
The remaining must be given to his department to build low-cost houses for the aged, child-headed family, the disabled and the unemployed.
“The land is now being surveyed and proclaimed as township and there will not only be residential stands, but also three schools and two clinics.”
Mashilo said his department is in the process of appointing a contractor that will begin to install water, sanitation infrastructure and build roads infrastructure.
“When my department is done with water, sanitation and roads infrastructure, it will be the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s responsibility to install a bulk water pipeline. If it is not installed, residents will experience sewer spills, because they will be using their toilets without running water,” said Mashilo.
He also requested that the municipality prioritise Leandra when doing their budget because of the department’s projects.
Mashilo said all those residents who will get a piece of land in Ext 8 on which to build their house, should know that the new RDP houses are well-built and they will not degrade their houses. The only difference will be the size.
The MEC said the department managed to reach an agreement with the owners of the land portion 37, known as Marikana.
“We are buying that 790 hectares of land for R64m. What will be left for us is for its development in our next financial year.
“There is also another piece of land that belongs to a certain family. This is about 1701 hectares which have been proclaimed for residential stands and are well kept by that family, they wanted us to buy the land and also to appoint them to develop it.
“I refused, because I saw that as a robbing game. I told them that if they want an agreement with my department, they must develop that land.
“I will only buy the developed sites with water, sanitation and roads infrastructure to avoid the robbing game,” said Mashilo.
He also talked about the litigation between a mining company and the Ext 24 landowner.
Mashilo said his department decided to support the municipality and the landowner in order to get the land back.
Mashilo told the community that next month he will send his officials to work with the municipality by registering all those who are in need of land or RDP houses.
He also warned those who have already benefited elsewhere to not even try because their central system will reveal if they have RDP houses elsewhere.
