The residents who live in the low cost housing development known as Kwalatshoda in Ward 1, have been getting the short end of the stick for far too long.
In April 2002 this development got the go ahead, Records of Decision were issued, housing recipients lists were drawn up and it seemed everyone knew what was expected of them. Ugu agreed to supply water and an efficient sewage system.
Now, 20 years later, we have 600 houses built, houses that were provided with a toilet, but no running water to the house and a septic tank that was about the size of a large shoebox and was quite obviously going to fail dismally in its task of providing an efficient sewage system.
What is supposed to happen, is that after five years at the outside, the residents that were given their allocated houses according to the official list, and should have been given their title deeds, and yet they still have no title deed stating that the house belongs to them. The Record of Decision which was handed down in February 2002 stated that certain conditions should be complied with before title deeds could be handed to the new owners. These conditions include water supply, sewage disposal and waste/refuse removal and disposal.
What I would like to know, is why after 20 years, Ray Nkonyeni Municipality seem to be unconcerned that residents are defecating on vacant stands, because toilets are 99% non existent, water which is supposed to be available at a stand pipe not more than 200 metres from any home, has not been available in section 12 and 13 for four years and is erratic to say the least in other areas of KwaLatshoda.
The entire area is a waste disposal site with litter blowing around and dogs scratching in the black bags which some residents put out at a central point, hoping for them to be picked up since the use of skips was removed because of budget constraints.
At the recent Imbizo, the Mayor said that when Ugu sorted out the water issues the residents would get title deeds…What I want to ask is what has Ray Nkonyeni Municipality done in the last 20 years to hurry this process along and why are people allowed to live in homes that are quite obviously not fit for human habitation?
Where is the concern and care for the people that the ruling party talks about all the time and yet ignores when it suits them.
STEPHANIE BREEDT
Ward 1 Councillor
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