The residents of Olympia Palms allege the metro is charging exorbitant rates for what is supposed to be low-cost housing in Geduld.
The development on First Avenue is owned by council and is meant for indigent people.
The residents are upset about the high rental costs because according to an official document released by the metro, they are supposed to be charged far less and these prices were supposed to come into effect on July 1 last year.
For example, the council is supposed to charge R600 for a three bedroom flat at Olympia Palms, yet residents are paying R4 000 a month for the flat.
“The prices they charge us are not the same.
“You get people staying in the same flat as me, but they are either paying a lower amount or not paying rent at all,
“How can they charge such high prices on what is supposed to be low-cost housing,” asks resident Ivan Titus.
There is also some confusion about how the metro evaluates how much each person can afford to pay.
Residents allege that the evaluation process is not clear nor can they object.
“We want to pay, but the process of pricing must be transparent.
“Why are there two different prices for the same flats?” says another resident, Stanley Maebela.
The residents also allege that the infrastructure at the development is poorly maintained and claim that they were given remotes for the main gate but the gate motor has not been working for over a year now.
The residents also allege that the metro is dragging their feet in renting out the houses to people who need accommodation.
“There are so many houses that are empty here, meanwhile people need a place to stay,” says Titus.
The metro failed to respond in time for publication.
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