Gauteng Premier David Makhura has warned residents of Bekkersdal that they should not buy their way into owning government-subsidised houses.
Premier Makhura was handing over keys to Bekkersdal residents at the Westonaria Borwa mixed development housing project.
He reiterated that no one must pay to receive a government house, and that those who request such payments are corrupt individuals who will be dealt with harshly.
He said corruption robs and deprives the poor of receiving government help.
“Corruption is a crime against the poor. We are committed to clean administration.
“The era of getting RDP houses due to nepotism or corruption has come to an end in the province. We must be transparent with everything that we do,” he said.
The handover over of houses ends a long legal dispute with the concerned residents of Westonaria, who took government to court after raising allegations of corruption on the waiting list.
The matter was settled out of court with an auditing firm appointed to investigate the waiting list of people who were to benefit in this project.
“As we celebrate the beginning of the handover process of the more than 1 200 houses in Westonaria, we are sending a strong message to people of Gauteng that ours is a development-thirsty government and we are going to forge ties with all stakeholders to avail land and to increase access to housing for people of Gauteng,” Premier Makhura said.
The handover was also attended by Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo, West Rand District Mayor Mpho Nawa and Executive Mayor of Westonaria Local Municipality Nonkoliso Tundzi.
The current allocations of Westonaria Borwa housing development benefits 1 200 beneficiaries from the dolomitic area of Bekkersdal and two informal settlements of Thusanang and Waterworks.
The Premier also received a donation of 150 houses from the mining company Goldfields, which will assist in reducing the housing backlog in the area.
Premier Makhura praised the mining company on the contribution that they made and urged them to do more and made a call to other companies to do the same.
The handover of houses comes just two weeks after MEC Jacob Mamabolo was in the area to launch the Bekkersdal Service Delivery Improvement Plan (SDIP).
The department has put aside more than R300 million to upgrade and improve the sewer network in Bekkersdal.
The plan also included the clean-up campaign and construction of a new secondary school in Bekkersdal.
“Our actions in Bekkersdal are a clear testimony of government’s commitment to turning Bekkersdal around and to ensuring that we bring services to the people.
“The Bekkersdal we are turning around will be one of peace and where images of violent service delivery protests will never be seen again,” MEC Jacob Mamabolo said. - SAnews.gov.za
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