POLOKWANE – For many years, more than 130 households in the deep rural village of Gumbani near Phaphazela have been waiting for RDP houses.
Residents here say they received disaster houses in 2000 after the floods had left many without proper housing.
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Today, they feel that they have been overlooked when RDP houses were allocated, as they see people from nearby communities including those in Phaphazela receiving houses, but that the privilege has not befallen them.
Wilson Makhasa, the community representative in Gumbani village said some years ago, RDP houses were allocated to nearby villagers, but when the time came for their village, the process was halted.
At the time, the village were part of the Thulamela Municipality but has since been divided under the Collins Chabane Municipality. According to Makhasa, community representatives have been seeking answers and assistance as to why they have not received houses, but to no avail.
“We are upset that we have not received what was promised to us. In 2017 they promised us RDP houses, but it didn’t materialise and we still don’t know why not.”He added that during his recent visit to the village, Mayor Moses Maluleke said there was no allocation for RDP houses in the village for this financial year, but that they believe other villages are receiving houses.
“We want the MEC for Human Settlements, Basikopo Makamu to intervene,” he said. According to one resident, Amos Baloyi (53), life is a nightmare when you don’t have a proper place to stay.
“The housing conditions are so poor, it almost feels as if you’re sleeping outside. During rainy and windy days it is worse and we are left praying that we survive.”
The spokesperson for the Collins Chabane Municipality, Robert Mathe said the allocation and building of RDP houses in Gumbani village was delayed as tests needed to be done to ascertain whether the soil is suitable for building.
He urged residents to be patient, as the tests were ongoing and drawing to a close soon.
“As soon as these tests are done and the grounds are found good for building after investigations, the village will receive RDP houses in the next batch,” he said.
