Masinenge residents have raised concerns about 382 houses that were recently handed over to them by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) and the KZN Department of Human Settlements, which do not have electricity.
Nozuko Shezi of Ward 3 in Masinenge said this after RNM mayor Zodwa Mzindle said the municipality and the department have thus far handed over 506 houses in Masinenge.
Mzindle was speaking at a mayoral budget roadshow for Cluster 4 (Wards 3, 5, 25, 26, 27 and 28) at the Gamalakhe ZG Hall on Tuesday last week.
Shezi said Masinenge residents are confused as to what the point is of building houses that don’t have electricity.
Addressing Cluster 4 residents, Mzindle said the Masinenge Informal Settlement upgrade is worth R154 million, which is still under construction.
Mzindle said the KZN Department of Human Settlements appointed Stedone Developments as the implementing agent and that the contractor is currently busy with the construction of 416 units, of which 377 have been completed.
“Some 129 units were previously completed by the municipality, thus bringing a total of 506 units,” she said.
She added that the Gamalakhe Insitu Upgrade Housing Project has been earmarked for Wards 5, 25, 26, 27 and 28 at a cost of R63 427 145.
She said the project has been on hold after the withdrawal of the implementing agent.
Mzindle said out of the 500 units, the agent managed to complete 367 units.
She said the department has committed to appointing an implementing agent by the end of April to complete the 133 units that are at various stages of completion.
She added that there is also phase 2 of the project, which consists of 300 units at a cost of R45 154 500.
“The KZN Department of Human Settlements has appointed Chushisanani Mzansi as the implementing agent for the second phase of 300 units. Beneficiary administration is currently underway with 186 approvals. To date, 23 units are under construction,” said Mzindle.
Among other concerns raised by Masinenge residents was the issue of skip loaders being filled up quickly.
They also said that they want the municipality to build a community hall in Masinenge because the creche they use has become too small for the growing number of residents.
Also, the chairperson of the Gamalakhe Community Policing Forum, Gabisani Cele, told Cluster 4 councillors to work with the forum to curb crime in the township.
Cele said councillors need to make sure that unoccupied houses in the township are closed because they are generally used by criminals.
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