The New Age: Gugulethu backyarders left out in the cold

http://www.thenewage.co.za/28081-1011-53-Gugulethu_backyarders_left_out_in_the_cold

Gugulethu backyarders left out in the cold

A group of Gugulethu backyarders are fuming after human settlement MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela failed to meet them on Sunday to iron out allegations of corruption in an Eersterivier housing project.

Madikizela had agreed to a meeting with 52 backyarders who were part of an initial group of 300 backyarders who in 2001 started pooling their savings in order to obtain houses in a People’s Housing Project.

Initially calling themselves the Gugulethu RDP Housing Project, they appointed Pumla Dlokolo as their chairperson and approached the provincial housing department with their savings in 2006.

Dlokolo had told them that R2500 was required for a two-room house, and up to R5000 for a larger house.

Upon their submission to the housing department, then under MEC Richard Dyantyi, ervens were obtained in Eerste Rivier and an 821-unit housing project, named the Our Pride Housing Project, was given the go-ahead; the first phase was completed at the end of last year.

However, 52 of the original 300 Gugulethu backyarders have still not received houses.

It has emerged that the housing department never required money from beneficiaries to be paid over.

When enquiries were made a month ago, Madikizela’s spokesperson, Bruce Oom, said all beneficiaries were expected to contribute was “sweat equity”, meaning they should play a part in the building of their houses.

He said no money had been received from Dlokolo. The 52, who now call themselves the Gugulethu Concerned Backyarders, claim Dlokolo kicked them out of the project, but had never returned their money.

Nocekisani Phangalele, 43, said she was kicked out of the project by Dlokolo a “few months” before the handing over of houses in December last year.

The backyarders claim Dlokolo has also replaced their names on the beneficiary list with those of friends and family who are now living in the Our Pride Housing Project, and is selling vacant houses and renting out others for R1000 a month.

Dlokolo has admitted that seven of her family have benefited from the housing project, but said they had applied “just like everyone else”. Asked why the 52 backyarders were not on the beneficiary list, she said “they were expelled from the project because they failed to adhere to the constitution of the organisation,” adding: “We pleaded with them many times and then we decided to expel them.”

A month ago, Dlokolo said she was paying money back to the backyarders and “most of them have received their money”.

However, on Sunday the backyarders said they had not received a cent from Dlokolo. “I have not received any money from Pumla,” said backyarder Malusi Msesi.

Yesterday Dlokolo said that she was reimbursing backyarders.

“People are claiming their money and it is given to them. The procedure is that people must bring their deposit slips for proof that they have been paying before money can be transferred back to their account.”

Meanwhile, the group strongly criticised Madikizela for contacting them “at the last minute” to tell them he would not meet with them.

“They are doing this deliberately to provoke us,” said Msesi.

“This is not the first time they have not attended to our meeting although they have promised to come. We are not satisfied the way Madikizela is handling us.”

Oom said “our team” offered to invite the relevant project manager and a contractor’s representative to “help bring clarity to the housing issue”.

However, he said the officials were “unfortunately” not available and this was communicated to the Gugulethu backyarders before the weekend.

“At no stage was minister Madikizela committed to attend or scheduled to attend the meeting,” said Oom.

But he stressed that the department remained committed to engaging with the Gugulethu group to find solutions to their housing needs. – West Cape News