Tebogo Msimanga
Building shacks is becoming a trend in South Africa. Not long ago, African National Congress (ANC) in Limpopo came under fire when its Premier Stan Mathabatha unveiled 40 shacks valued at R2.4 million.
The Free State Department of Human Settlements is not left behind.The department is building a shack community,100m from the local dumping site in Selahliwe informal settlement at Harrismith. According to Free state DA MP Leona Kleynhans this is allegedly part of the Covid-19 “de-densification” project previously announced by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
The DA said according to information they received, a Gauteng based company, Rich Soil Resources was awarded the contract to erect the structures, allegedly at a cost of R 22 080 each, which includes the long-drop toilet.
The opposition party said moving of families into these hastily constructed tin shacks is an insult to their dignity. “There are no roads in the area, with sites pegged out in the dusty veld, and raw scraped passages for streets. Water is delivered by tanker to JoJo tanks in each “street”.
The Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality is awaiting the finalization of the township register from the Surveyor General. Only 247 households will receive title deeds. The other 638 will not receive title deeds now because the township register is not yet opened. These people will receive a “Permission to Occupy” document from the municipality.
The DA said it will continue to investigate this project.
