This was revealed by Housing MMC Dan Bovu on Thursday at Fleurhof.
Bovu was addressing residents from Meadowlands and surrounding areas who wanted to occupy the new housing units currently under construction in Fleurhof. Angry residents appealed with the MMC to deal with the alleged corruption in the allocation process.
Most of them came to the meeting with an impression that they were going to be handed keys to their new homes.
There was disappointment when the MMC told them that no allocation was going to take place on the day.
“As government we are not allowed to give people houses which do not have electricity. It is only right that houses are given to the people once all the services including electrification have been sorted out,” said Bovu.
The meeting between Bovu and residents follows reports that some residents tried to forcefully occupy the new housing units in Fleurhof last week.
Top of the demand’s list by residents is that the number of housing units to be allocated during the first phase be increased and that the department should root out corruption in the allocation process.
Bovu highlighted that a task team which will look at allegations of corruption has been set up and it will be working together with community leaders.
Another meeting has been scheduled to take place on April 11 to give residents feedback on the progress made since the Thursday meeting.
“We have 250 houses which are ready but just waiting for services and about 900 more which are outstanding. This is going to be a very big project with about 21 000 units but we are still on the first phase,” said Bovu.
Molefi Mpe, member of the Meadowlands Community Forum said, “I am satisfied, because we were able to interact directly with the MMC regarding this issue, also from the pre- meeting we had with him, a technical task team was formed consisting of representatives from all the community organisations which will interact with the community and the department moving forward.
