The DA Shadow MEC FOR Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota, conducted an oversight visit yesterday to the Community Residential Units in Shalimar Ridge and Ratanda hostel in Heidelberg.
These RDP two-story walk-up flats have been vacant for 3 years and as a result some of the internal assets have been vandalised.
In Shalimar Ridge there are 12 blocks of flats with 144 units which have not been maintained; the grass is very long and there is rubble all over the yard. In some units the electrical cables, plugs and boards have been stolen as well as the water taps. The bathroom tubs are broken and electricity smart meters are lying on the floor.
Click here, here and here for photos.
The same is true of the Ratanda hostel flats. The roof has collapsed and the roof tiles are all over the ground. The windows are broken, there are water leaks and sewer blockages.
Despite their poor condition these vacant flats are currently being guarded by security guards.
The money wasted on security services should be used wisely in building more houses for our people.
The DA believes the fast-tracking of housing allocation is the only solution to reduce the 600 000 housing backlog in the province.
We will table questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to ascertain the following:
- When were these flats completed?
- Why are these flats still vacant?
- When is the allocation going to be done?
- Who is responsible for the maintenance of these flats?
- Who will be held accountable for the vandalised and broken assets?
- When were the security companies hired?
- How much has been spent so far on these security companies?
The DA will continue to hold MEC Mashatile accountable in ensuring that all unfinished provincial housing projects are completed and beneficiaries receive their homes.