The civil contractor Sikhumba Construction was stopped from continuing work on the day.
There has, however, appeared to be confusion over the matter, as Lindelani residents still demand RDP houses while the metro says that the subsidised residential development could not continue on the said land, as it has now been sold for a low cost house development.
Joshua Dywili, a community leader in Windmill Park, has been living in his shack for about 13 years.
Dywili does upholstering for a living, and says he will not be able to afford the bond of the houses that are being developed.
DA Clr Tsholofelo Motshidi says the party has strongly criticised the ruling party in Ekurhuleni for falsely raising the hopes of people who are desperate for RDP housing.
“The ANC is misleading Lindelani residents about privately-owned land in Windmill Park. The community reported to the DA that the government, especially the ward councillor, has promised them RDP houses.
“This is a direct contradiction to a response from the MMC for Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS), Queen Duba, to a DA question during a council meeting in which she said the metro had no plans to develop the land because it was privately-owned,” explains Motshidi.
Ward 99 Clr Claude Mabaso says he never made this promise and it is a fabrication.
“It’s a lie. I’m aware that the land is privately-owned, I would never promise to build RDP houses on that land,” says Mabaso.
Mabaso says land has been identified for the residents of Lindelani informal settlement.
“The people of Lindelani will be relocated somewhere in Vlak Plaas. I am battling with the MMC for Human Settlements and the mayor to finalise a date, but as far as I know, the land has been secured,” he explains.
He points out that at this stage he cannot disclose the exact area.
According to metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe, at the moment the Windmill Park extension nine project, which consists out of low cost housing, is continuing, but this is not the RDP houses.
“The Windmill Park extension nine project was implemented by the metro as a Community Builders Project. The GDHS entered into a funding agreement with the metro for the construction of the houses, as we had made funding available.
“The GDHS took over the development during June 12, 2008, and continued with the construction of the houses.
“The Windmill Park extension nine project size consists of 1 871 houses, and approximately 90 per cent of these are complete,” explains Gadebe.
Gadebe says the municipality, however, had plans to purchase land for the RDP house development.
This is in line with documents in possession of the Advertiser from the (GDHS) dated February 4, 2006, stating that RDP houses would be built in Windmill Park, as well as documents indicating a budget for a building project in the area.
“The metro at first conducted the feasibility and geotechnical studies with the view of acquiring the said property for subsidised residential development.
“However, while in the process of conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment study, the land owner sold the land to a private developer and the metro’s planned project could no longer continue.” -@TumeloBoksburg
