Department warns against illegal occupation of houses
It has emerged that after the handover, a group of people confronted the beneficiaries and intimated them to vacate their houses.
The City of Mbombela and the Department of Human Settlements have joined forces with law-enforcement authorities to intervene in the illegal occupation of houses and eviction of lawful beneficiaries by so-called concerned individuals.
This follows an event last Saturday when MEC, Mr Speedy Mashilo together with City of Mbombela Executive Mayor, Clr Sibusiso Mathonsi, handed over more than 400 housing units to lawful subsidised beneficiaries at Tekwane North Ext 1. This delivery is part of the R51 million project that comprises nearly 500 houses constructed through the Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP), Water, sanitation and roads infrastructure have been supplied by both institutions.
Read: MEC shows no mercy to illegal occupants of RDP houses
It has emerged that after the handover, a group of people confronted the beneficiaries and intimated them to vacate their houses. In some instances where the beneficiaries had not yet taken occupation of their houses, the group randomly allocated themselves unoccupied houses. It has also been reported that several beneficiaries had been assaulted. The police and law- enforcement personnel have since been deployed to the area to assist the affected beneficiaries and facilitate criminal cases where necessary.
Also read: Department warns against illegal selling of RDP houses
The government condemns this incident and similar ones which are infringing on people’s rights impede on the development in society. The department and the municipality urge all victims to report any challenges experienced as a result of this criminal act to the police. Plans are underway between both the institutions and the concerned group or individuals to find an amicable solution to this matter. Police will continue to monitor the situation on-site to protect the public and property.
