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EC government must address Bedford land invasions

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Dear MyPE

The uncaring attitude of the ANC government has recently led to unacceptable land invasions in the town of Bedford.

After waiting years for housing delivery, and fed up with government’s empty promises, members of the Goodwin Park community invaded vacant land on Sunday.

Whilst not condoning the actions of the disgruntled residents, the DA believes that every South African family should have access to adequate shelter.

The housing shortage and the failure of the Eastern Cape government to address their needs, has in particular affected hundreds of residents of Goodwin Park.

The issue of housing in Goodwin Park has long been plagued by allegations of corruption. There are many instances where beneficiaries were allocated erf numbers but when the houses were due to be handed over, they were either given to people from outside the community, or “sold” to some who were never on any housing list.

In May 2016 the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements ordered many people in the Goodwin Park area to vacate their houses so that they could be rectified. No emergency housing was given with the result that due to the extreme shortage of accommodation, many families had to be split up.

The contractor subsequently absconded and the abandoned houses have since collapsed with the result that many families have lost their homes entirely.

In response to a question in the Bhisho Legislature in 2017, the MEC for Human Settlements confirmed that rectification would resume in 2019.

In late 2019 the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality tabled written reports from the Department in Council stating that the rectification project as well as the building of houses in Goodwin Park was underway. This report was blatantly false as nothing was taking place.

I will now write to the DA EC Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Sanele Magaqa, MPL, and ask him to submit questions to the MEC requesting reasons why the rectification has not been completed. The MEC must also give clarity on if any of the vandalised and destroyed houses will be rebuilt.

The ANC government has kept the residents of Bedford hanging on to the promise of housing opportunities for the past 23 years and will continue to keep its residents waiting due to the failure of the Department of Human Settlements and Raymond Mhlaba Municipality to deal with these challenges.

Regards

Cllr Cecilia Auld
Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality

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