GEORGE NEWS - The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements is yet to respond on the status of over 40 RDP houses in Asazani, Thembalethu, which have been vandalised in the over eight months they have been standing empty.
The houses, some of which have been fitted with windows and electricity meter boxes, have been stripped. Residents complain that the area resembles a ghost town and that the houses have become a haven for criminals.
With a high demand for housing in the area, it is a mystery why these house have not been occupied or protected from vandals.
A request for information to the George Municipality received the following response from spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose: "The area referred to is a TRA (Temporary Relocation Area) and is used by the municipality as and when required."
Questions were also sent to the MEC of housing Tertuis Simmers, but no response has been received.
Residents say they have engaged with the municipality over this matter, but a solution is yet to be found.
The houses have been stripped of doors and other items.
A similar situation also exists in Zone 6, Thembalethu, were stand-alone toilets have been the lone occupants of 99 serviced sites for close to two years. The toilets were built by the George Municipality in Area 8C as part of the Thembalethu Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP).
Electricity meter boxes have been vandalised.
At the time the municipal director of Human Settlements, Charles Lubbe, said beneficiaries from Area 3, Area 8A and 8B, as well as beneficiaries from Ward 9, have been identified to relocate to the area and the relocation process would start "within the next few weeks".
However, to date no relocation has taken place.
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