Langa Langa, chairperson of the ANC George Sub-Region:
This refers to an article in the George Herald (14 September) regarding the UISP programme in Ward 21, Asazani and Monkwearmouth areas in Thembalethu. In the said report, it is reported that the first phase of the programme of UISP, which is said to have about 1 750 units, has been completed and that beneficiaries have already taken occupation of these houses.
In this, I want to set the record straight for anyone to know that only seventy (70) houses have been built in the area of Asazani, of which thirty-five (35) have been officially handed over to beneficiaries and occupied and the remainder is yet to be handed over to beneficiaries.
In Mdongwe, only twenty-nine (29) houses have been erected and none of them have been handed over to beneficiaries and or occupied, so in short, a total of one hundred and thirty four (134) houses have been built, of which thirty-five have been occupied and the rest have yet to be handed over to beneficiaries.
Once again, as a leader in this community and more so, one that facilitated the beginning of the erection of these houses, I wish to set the record straight. I take nothing away from the importance of providing our people with this much-needed service, but it needs to be said that the report in the George Herald is far from the truth and does in no way begin to reflect the situation on the ground.
I would like to call on all those responsible for the delays in the progress in building houses for our people to refrain from such unwarranted acts and rather consider supporting the efforts that seek to give dignity to our people instead of using the plight of unsuspecting people to achieve their own ends.
n The information Mr Langa refers to in his letter was part of a press release issued by the Provincial Department of Human Settlements last week. We suspect that the 1 750 units referred to might actually be serviced plots. The George Municipality confirmed that the housing project will provide a total of 700 houses in the first phase of the project. A total of 41 houses have been handed over and 109 houses are in the construction process. Read more on this elsewhere in the paper. - Editor
