Residents are up in arms and they are accusing Emalahleni Housing Committee (EHC) of being corrupt.
The residents alleged that Uthingo Park Low Cost Housing Scheme was meant to be a pioneering project in low cost housing, initially intended to address the housing needs of those who fell into the gap market; not qualifying for an RDP house nor earning enough to qualify for a bond.
Residents of Uthingo Park marching to hand over a memorandum to the offices of Neuhoff Khoza Attorneys on Thursday, October 4.
On Thursday, October 4, the group walked to the offices of Neuhoff Khoza Attorneys to hand over a memorandum in which they highlight their grievances.
Amongst others they said that the houses were meant to benefit low income families through a rent to buy model wherein the people would eventually own the houses, not to rent forever.
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“The settlement has since 2008 been hijacked by politically connected individuals who benefit from the people renting perpetually. This is done through the taking over of the housing institution set up by the developer for the sole purpose of collecting rent for the furtherance of the development. EHC is looting the R43 million being collected in rent sharing it amongst themselves through a bogus board of directors. The Emalahleni Housing Company is a section 21 company that was established by the developer as a rent collecting agent. This company was used to hijack the development from the developer through a bogus board of directors,” the residents claimed.
The residents alleged that Mr DB Khoza of Neuhoff Khoza Attorneys is the lead actor and enable of corruption through his role as a board member of EHC serving in his capacity as a so called representative of the law society on the board.
Residents of Uthingo Park at the eMalahleni Municipality on their way to hand over a memorandum at the offices of Neuhoff Khoza Attorneys on Thursday, October 4.
They say Khoza advised the board to go to court and oppose the transfer of the reaming portion of the development to the developer for construction of a new township settlement.
Residents of Uthingo Park at the eMalahleni Municipality on their way to hand over a memorandum at the offices of Neuhoff Khoza Attorneys on Thursday, October 4.
They are now demanding that Khoza resigns from the board. Khoza denies alleged corruption at EHC as further maintains that affairs at EHC are conducted in an open transparent manner.
“As it was reported that the purpose of the march was to demonstrate against the firm as the firm is involved in collecting rent relating the Uthingo Park Low Cost Housing Scheme. An allegation was made to the effect that some of the rent monies were defrauded from the tenants. The firm confirmed that it has no involvement and never had any involvement in the collection of rent relating to Uthingo Park Low Cost Housing Scheme. The firm also confirmed that it does not act as attorneys for the EHC,” the law firm set the record straight.
