NW audits occupants of Madibeng low cost houses

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Pretoria - Officials from the North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements have moved into Madibeng Local Municipality to conduct an audit list of the beneficiaries of low cost houses.

The audit was commissioned on Monday by MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine. This follows a peaceful service delivery march by Madibeng residents, who raised concerns about illegal occupants of low cost houses.

MEC Maine ordered that the audit should identify the rightful beneficiaries of the houses to root out any biased allocation. The audit will also include beneficiaries who have opted to rent out their houses as tuck shops or for any other purposes.

“It is only then that we would be able to decide on corrective measures which will ensure that we only have rightful owners in these houses,” MEC Maine said on Tuesday.

The MEC also issued a stern warning against councillors who allocate the low cost houses to their friends and relatives, who are not on the beneficiary lists.

“All allegations of fraud, corruption and nepotism that the residents levelled against the municipality will be thoroughly investigated.”

He further appealed to members of the community to come forward with information that would assist with the investigation.

Water, sanitation challenges

Meanwhile, MEC Maine said the water and sanitation intervention team that was dispatched to camp in Madibeng since March 2015, will continue to do its work until the water supply challenge has been resolved.

“As of March this year, the water and sanitation function is now performed by the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements and the Department of Water and Sanitation, whilst Magalies Water was appointed as an implementing agent to ensure the provision of water and sanitation to the community of Madibeng,” MEC Maine said. – SAnews.gov.za