Soshanguve housing scandal

ULTIMATUM FROM ANC ‘AREA COMMITTEE’, RESIDENTS CLAIM

Residents of Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve have alleged they have been denied housing stands because they are not ANC members.

Pretoria North Rekord reports the residents, who were supposed to be relocated to new stands, questioned the credibility of the “area committee” tasked with the process. One resident, Abel Hlongwane, said they have been waiting far too long to be relocated, while “corrupt officials” were being bribed and were allocating stands to unworthy recipients.

He accused the “area committee” of manipulating the list.

Some of the concerned residents told Pretoria North Rekord they are not sure what to expect from the “area committee”.

The residents alleged they were told by members of the committee anyone who was not a member of the ANC would never be moved from the informal settlement.

They claimed they were told the land where Marry Me was situated would be given back to its owner and after that, the Red Ants would demolish their structures.

Some residents said they were staying away from work not knowing if they would be allocated a site elsewhere in their absence, or whether they had to protect their homes and families, following threats received.

DA councillor Gert Pretorius recently submitted a petition to council requesting a transparent waiting list for the area.

“The ANC opposed this proposal. We have it on good authority that the owner of the land is quite prepared to negotiate a land swap with the metro,” said Pretorius.

He said not one DA supporter had been allocated any site in extension 19 or moved from Marry Me.

“Some DA supporters, in fact, received death threats and were warned their houses would be burned down should they contin-