To protect the incomplete Shalimar Ridge Housing Project from theft and vandalism is costing ratepayers just over R700 000 per month, yet during a recent visit to this white elephant it was discovered that the infrastructure is being stripped away bit by bit.
Fidelity security guard Marius Maree alerted HERAUT that he had noticed how criminals were carrying copper and other items of value from the building site. Previously security companies were allowed to conduct routine searches on suspicious persons in the area but have since been instructed by Heidelberg SAPS not to get involved in these situations.
After visiting the site, it was discovered that apart from copper pipes, light fittings and other items of value that have been removed over time, several of the recently installed ovens and geysers were also missing.
The theft of these items not only amounts to thousands of rands, it will inevitably further delay the completion of a project which has now entered its 13th year since inception.
The reason for the most recent theft of prised items seems to stem from an argument over payment of security services.
According to a member of the community who, with others, had volunteered his services as a security guard, the company that were supposed to protect the property withdrew after they were not compensated and this meant that there was no security in place for close to two weeks.
This meant that of the 144 stoves that were delivered for the housing units, only 70 were still on the property. Many of these remaining units sustained serious damage.
A full audit of the number of geysers that were stolen still has to be completed.
It would appear that a new security company had since been employed to protect the premises. On July 11 last year Democratic Alliance Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota, and several other delegates visited the site in question and were shocked when they noticed how badly the yet to be completed apartments had deteriorated.
At the time Cirota said that while the DA would hold MEC Paul Mashatile accountable to ensure that all unfinished provincial housing projects are completed and beneficiaries receive their homes, he was blown away by the level of chaos that has become synonymous with Lesedi Local Municipality.
Questions had since been submitted to Parliament in which the DA requested clarity on the matter. In response to these questions it was revealed that a further R13-million would be needed to complete the project and it was confirmed that R700 000 was allocated each month to secure the premises.
Acquiring the funding to complete the project is, however, proving to be a challenge. The African National Congress, said in its parliamentary response that the construction costs for the Community Residential Unit Programme (CRU) were exorbitant and the programme was not addressing appropriately the accommodation needs of potential beneficiaries as the anticipated rentals were unaffordable and rejected by prospective qualifying tenants.
Furthermore, “Lesedi Local Municipality has been advised by the Province to issue a call for proposal to prospective Property Developers and Management companies to express an interest to take over the management of the stock and raise funds to complete the outstanding work in order to allocate the houses for rental purposes to beneficiaries qualifying for social housing assistance.”
“This would also entail the successful bidder approaching the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) for grant funding assistance to complete all the work.
“Given that the Municipality is yet to issue the proposal call it would be expected that the process including completion of works would take no lesser than 12 months and therefore tenanting may be projected to take place in mid-2019.”
Attempts to get official comment from the Province on the latest development at the Shalimar Ridge Housing project were unsuccessful.
Follow us on:
