Breidbach anger over RDP lists
MEC to look at residents’ claims prior to community meeting
THE Breidbach community has expressed its disappointment in the latest RDP beneficiary priority list and has mandated the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) to persuade Human Settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August to scrap it.
The list relates to the promised RDP housing project which is set to start in the area in the near future.
The well-attended meeting was held at His Majesty Worship Centre in Breidbach at the weekend after permission for use of the community hall was denied.
According to Sanco secretary Stacey Gosling, the meeting was of paramount importance after Sauls-August, during a heated community meeting last week, proposed proof be submitted of all irregularities and discrepancies which appeared on the list.
“We, as the executive of Sanco, visited the legislature on request of our members who complained about nepotism and discrepancies on the list and were promised by human settlements portfolio chairwoman Mary Ndlangisa-Makaula that our grievances will be attended to,” said Gosling.
Some of the allegations of discrepancies on the priority list are that most of the listed beneficiaries earned more than the prescribed R3500 required to qualify for an RDP house; that government and BCM employees’ names appear on the list and that the names of people from other areas and wards were listed.
Sanco leader Desmond Allison said the community want the process of the list to be repeated.
“We are afraid that if the list is not corrected it will create confusion, anger and division as was displayed during the meeting.”
Ndlangisa-Makaula requested the leadership of Sanco to mobilise the community for a meeting in the presence of Sauls-August, Chief Whip Fundile Gade and his deputy Kholiswa Fihlani.
Allison repeated what he told the guests in Bhisho and suggested a mixed housing project that would accommodate beneficiaries for the RDP houses and those in the gap market earning less than R15000.
Sauls-August in response said: “We have taken away the process from BCM. I asked this same community in this venue last year if you are sure you only want RDP houses – to which you agreed. So I want to emphasise that it was your decision.
“In terms of the allegations of corruption in the beneficiary list, I call on you to come forward with proof in writing directed to me and I will return here.”
On Tuesday, Gosling said they had submitted the proof as requested by the MEC and that they were waiting for her response ahead of the proposed meeting set for tonight.