EFF anger at delay in commission findings

EFF MP Zolile Xalisa has expressed disappointment in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality’s (EMLM) slow pace in fast-tracking the completion of the housing commission formed in 2013.

The commission was established to investigate RDP houses which were said to have been either received by people who did not qualify for them, people who received houses although applications had not been filled in, people who appeared on the lists for houses in the incorrect areas, people who had received title deeds for houses that had not been built and the duplication of house numbers.

Xalisa said many people of Unathi Mkefa were suffering as they continued to wait to receive the houses they had been promised.

He said the municipality had been keeping mum on the commission’s progress and when findings would be made public.

“The commission was set up to investigate maladministration and financial irregularities linked to the housing department in EMLM. The delay on the release of the findings from the commission raises eyebrows. Mayors have come and gone, the elephant remains in the room and nothing is being done. There has been an executive directive for the findings of the report to be tabled in council.”

Xalisa said the party’s patience would run out, but for now they would be patient while the report was being “doctored and manipulated to save the known ghost from being implicated.”

He said the EFF would ensure that everyone found guilty of extortion, manipulation and stealing from the community would be put behind bars.

Xalisa also called for a visit by the police, the human settlements department and community leaders to visit Unathi Mkefa to verify the authenticity of housing allocations as per the original list.

Another aspect of the commission involves the human settlement office based at Komani Psychiatric Hospital.

The commission’s chairperson, Adre Bartis, said they had not interviewed all the respondents identified in the commission and since their contract had expired, council had first to approve their new contract so they could continue where they had left off.

“However a preliminary report and the scope of work was seen by the municipal manager. We are left with a few months to conclude the report. The RDP houses related to these issues include 286 in Nomzamo, 232 in Unati Mkefa, 420 in Whittlesea and 125 in Ezibeleni Zone 3.”