DA MP seeks intervention at highest level

Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister for Human Settlements Solly Malatsi has sought the intervention of Defence Minister Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula and the Defence Secretariat in the matter of the dilapidated South African National Defence force accommodation facility on the outskirts of Polokwane, which Polokwane Observer reported on a fortnight ago.
In letters to the respective offices he further appealed to the Minister to release the land where the facility is based to the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs for housing purposes, as it was not of any use and degenerating into a vandals’ haven.
Photos published with Polokwane Observer’s follow-up story were attached as proof of the state of the vandalised and run-down structures, comprising of 25 mobile units that previously reportedly served as accommodation arrangement for army officials and their families.
In his correspondence Malatsi said it was evident from a visit to the facility days prior that it had been neglected for several years. “The physical structures of the mobile units have been vandalised. The weeds in the area have grown so large that the area is now a mini-forest. The infrastructure for basic services such as water and electricity has been destroyed.”
Malatsi continued to state that notwithstanding the vandalised condition of the units, he was convinced that some of the units could still, with modest renovations, be put to good use if donated to local crèches and community-based youth development organisations.

Story & photos: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com