Velwano houses: call to claimants

NU1 RDP beneficiaries have 30 days, from last Monday, to respond

Buffalo City Metro has called on 101 of its RDP beneficiaries to come forward to claim their spot in the multimillion-rand Velwano housing project.

City manager Andile Sihlahla advertised the list of 101 names last week, urging the beneficiaries or their relatives “to present themselves to our human settlement department at [our] Mdantsane office with regards to housing subsidy applications”.

He said the beneficiaries would be given 30 working days from last Monday, the day the advert was published.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Friday, BCM spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said when construction of houses in NU1 started, a group of people came forward claiming the land on which they had constructed completed houses.

“Some claimants managed to produce title deeds and others receipts.

“Out of 149 title deed claimants, 48 approached the Legal Aid Board to represent them in this matter,” Ngwenya said.

“We have given a period of 30 days for beneficiaries to respond to the adverts, with the next one coming out nationally this weekend, for those not residing in the Eastern Cape.

“Thereafter, we will seek legal advice as to how to treat those who do not meet the cut-off period.

“We do not want to pre-empt what our approach will be for those who have not submitted, except to urge people to do all means necessary to be on the right side of compliance and law.”

He added that next-of-kin for deceased beneficiaries were encouraged to come forward.

Consultation and engagement between BCM and the parties affected reportedly took place and an agreement was reached to advertise the beneficiaries’ names in local newspapers.