Public works set to sell Hamburg plots

THE Eastern Cape department of public works (DPW) intends to sell 52 plots in the Hamburg area under the Ngqushwa municipality.

Of the 52, 48 are vacant, two have dilapidated houses that will be demolished and two have vacant houses. The plan is in line with the objectives of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act of 2007.

DPW spokeswoman Vuyokazi Mbanjwa said the act stipulates that immovable assets that are not required for the state’s service delivery objectives should be surrendered.

The state has no line function need for these assets and they are a liability for the tax payer, she said.

Community members are up in arms, afraid the department will sell their properties, but public works has rushed to reassure them that nobody will be forced out of their home.

Asked how much the department intended to make from the sales, Mbanjwa said the market would determine the prices through an open tender bidding process.

She said illegal occupants would be dealt with through legal processes while tenants with legal tenure rights were fully protected as their homes did not form part of the disposal process.

“We have identified 48 vacant plots, two plots with dilapidated houses to be demolished and two plots with vacant houses.

“The properties were submitted to the intergovernmental Eastern Cape provincial state land disposal committee for the intent to dispose and concurrence was granted to proceed with the disposal process,” Mbanjwa said.

“Should it be found that a property listed in the tender is beneficially occupied or subject to a land claim, it will be withdrawn from the process,” she said.