Daily Dispatch

BCM must stop the RDP bullies

FOR years now, the illegal occupation of government-issued RDP houses in the Eastern Cape has been a widespread problem.

Today on page 5 we report the case of Zamukulungisa Mnyaka, 37, of Unit P in Mdantsane, East London who is yet another beneficiary who finds himself without a house, despite being issued with one, as a stranger currently occupies it.

In some cases, houses are illegally occupied because they stand unoccupied for extended periods as municipalities struggle to locate approved beneficiaries.

But in Mnyaka’s case this is not the issue. He has a title deed proving that he is indeed the rightful owner of the house and he wants it.

The house was allocated to him in February but no one informed him it was ready for occupation. The illegal occupant, only known as Nomonde, has apparently refused to move out – arguing that she will only do so on condition that Mnyaka reimburses her for all the money she has spent “fixing” the house. She claims the house had been vandalised before she moved in earlier this year.

Commenting on Mnyaka’s case, BCM spokeswoman Bathandwa Diamond said: “The predicament faced by Mr Mnyaka, and other beneficiaries like him, is a matter the city is prioritising. Mnyaka’s house is one of the houses affected by illegal occupation in Unit P and in cases like these, the metro investigates the matter and also applies to the court for an eviction order.”

While the metro “investigates”, even though Diamond confirmed that Mnyaka is the rightful owner of the house, the latter lives in a makeshift shelter owned by a friend.

For years, municipalities, such as Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metro, as well as the provincial human settlements department have had to deal with such issues – promising to investigate housing allocation bungles.

If such cases persist even so many years after the government first issued RDP houses in the early 90s, then it means there has not been much appetite on the side of the authorities to put a stop to this.

One of the methods adopted by the government to try and put a stop to illegal occupations, has been to relocate people from informal settlements to temporary homes while their houses are being built in the very place where their shacks once stood.

By so doing, the beneficiaries get to monitor the progress of their houses and immediately move in after completion.

But even such a process is not foolproof as in some cases, ward councillors are involved in the unscrupulous issuing of houses within their wards.

This leaves beneficiaries – who are usually poor and uneducated – unable to fight against powerful councillors.

Hopefully the city’s “investigation” will result in Mnyaka taking occupation of his house. It is important that this happens so others who believe they can bully the helpless, can learn a lesson. It is only in a banana republic where an illegal occupant can tell the rightful owner to first reimburse them before they vacate the house.

BCM must help Mnyaka gain his house back, for the sake of our Constitution and respect for the rule of law.