Pretoria - The Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Jacob Mamabolo, has brokered an agreement between the Greater Westonaria Concerned Residents Association (GWCRA) and the Westonaria District Municipality over the allocation of 1000 houses in Botlhabela Borwa.
The flagship housing development is a high priority mixed housing project, however, the allocation of houses was stalled following a planned court interdict by the association. The GWCRA disputed the validity of the housing beneficiary list.
“The agreement is in the interest of the community and the people of Westonaria. It is part of our efforts to restore peace and stability in Bekkersdal,” said MEC Mamabolo on Monday, after signing the agreement.
“It has averted what could have become a longstanding court battle which could have taken a long time to resolve and negatively affected the residents, who have been waiting for houses for a very long time,” he said.
The agreement will lead to the appointment of an independent audit firm which will verify the housing list in dispute.
The firm will be given three months to complete and finalise the allocation list.
“The auditing firm will not deviate and will use government policies to ascertain who qualifies for the houses … The time frame is reasonable compared to a long court battle that will have negative effects on the people who are supposed to benefit [from the housing project],” he said.
The MEC said he will continue to engage with the association on others matters that have been affecting the area.
Secretary of the GWCRA, Wonder Modise, said the agreement will mean a lot in addressing the housing backlog in the area.
Thabo Ndlovu, Municipal Manager of the Westonaria Local Municipality, said the agreement was encouraging and hoped it was a beginning of a new trend in the manner the association and municipality engage on service delivery in the future. – SAnews.gov.za
