GEORGE NEWS - An ambiguous letter from the George Municipality which had beneficiaries of RDP houses in Protea Park up in arms, has been clarified.
Protea Park's Eva Meverlot was upset after being labelled a liar by the George Municipality as a result of this letter, which invited beneficiaries of RDP houses in Protea Park to a handover of the houses on Friday 22 December.
This was viewed by residents as an official handover and therefore they expected that all defects would be fixed.
However, this was not the case. Meverlot was one of several residents who had complaints about defects after moving into her house.
She said that the bathroom wall was skew, the hot water tap loose, one of the electrical wall plugs did not work, all the taps were marked blue for cold water, and the outside light was secured with a piece of wood.
When she complained, the officials ignored her and she had no option but to approach the George Herald.
Only after this, officials responded and fixed up everything to her satisfaction.
Later the municipality's housing director, Charles Lubbe, explained that the notification was not an official handover, but an interim arrangement to allow people to move into their houses to prevent vandalism or illegal occupations during builders' recess over the festive season.
"The signing of the 'happy letter' (which new homeowners sign when they are satisfied with the house) represents the official handover when the unit is completed and acceptable to all parties.
"These letters have not yet been signed."
This response differs from his initial answer to the newspaper in which he said that the handover was a private arrangement with the contractors, not the municipality.
"The (handover of the) houses that the participants in Protea Park received before Christmas, was an internal arrangement between the contractors and the participants to reduce vandalism of the houses over the festive season.
Charles Lubbe: "The happy letter will only be signed once the unit is completed and acceptable to all parties." Photos: Myron Rabinowitz
"Once the contractor completes these houses, the municipality will formally hand the houses over to the beneficiaries and a retention period of three months will apply.
"Any defects that occur during this retention period, will be repaired by the contractor."
In response to this initial answer from Lubbe, Meverlot showed the George Herald the letter, which looks like an official arrangement and not a private one.
Meverlot said everything in her house has now been fixed and she is happy. "Thank you municipality, thank you government."
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