GEORGE NEWS - Thembalethans in Zone 6 are curious about a collection of stand-alone toilets that have been erected on an open piece of land in Area 8C.
The toilets, built by the George Municipality, are part of the Thembalethu Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP). According to the municipality's director of Human Settlements, Charles Lubbe, the installation of services for the 99 sites were completed in February this year.
"Beneficiaries from Area 3, Area 8A and 8B, as well as beneficiaries from Ward 9, have been identified to relocate to Area 8C. The relocation process will start within the next few weeks," said Lubbe.
In the meantime, while no beneficiaries have settled here yet, vandals have been ripping the toilets apart, taking whatever they can lay their hands on.
According to Lubbe, the relocation process has been delayed due to changes in the allocations of the beneficiaries' programme. "This left the facilities vulnerable to vandalism. Security will be arranged to guard the toilets until people start moving onto the land."
With nobody in the vicinity, vandals are using their chance.
Some toilets were completely removed. Photos: Zolani Sinxo.
Lubbe added that houses will be constructed only once subsidy applications are approved for qualifying beneficiaries. "For now, beneficiary households will move to the serviced stands and erect informal structures on the stands. The amount allocated for the toilets and wash trough component was R8 000 of the total subsidy amount for each serviced stand."
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