Housing a hot topic in council

GEORGE NEWS - The service delivery riot in Thembalethu on Friday 23 March was still fresh in everyone's mind at the last council meeting on Wednesday 28 March. Motions tabled by ANC Ward Councillor Bulelwa Plata addressed residents' frustration with service delivery and formal housing in the area.

Plata said the people who made George ungovernable have been staying in the township for over a year, without basic services. She asked the different directorates about their plans. "We keep on getting gunplast [building plastic]. I am sick and tired of gunplast. Whenever we get to those issues there is no budget."

A heated debate followed, including comments from the gallery, stressing the need for housing in areas such as Borcherds and Maraiskamp. Mayor Melvin Naik said there is a vast need in most areas in George. "We need to be realistic. We can only do so much within an approved budget. There is a plan on the table." He stressed that the constant influx of people into Thembalethu is a huge concern.

According to DA Councillor Dawid Willemse an on-site visit was done by himself and municipal directors. "We came back and compiled a report which was made available to Plata, but she dismissed it," said Willemse. He said there are plans to legalise more electricity connections. "There are people who have homes and then rent their houses to others." He alleged that some councillors encourage people to squat illegally. Plata denied the accusations, saying ANC councillors are the first ones to be in the line of fire when things go wrong in Thembalethu.

DA Councillor Edmund Bussack said a delegation of officials and councillors were stopped by residents on Saturday 24 March when they wanted to render services in the township.

Langa Langa from the ANC said the danger begins when people want to politicise housing issues. "The problems we are experiencing today in Thembalethu is a result of the failures of the DA administration as well as this council." He said the DA was warned not to set a precedent and prioritise those who squat illegally, and make them home owners. "Now those who abide by the law feel they have been doing so quite long enough."

Charlie Williams said, "We are building a boerestaat within the new South Africa. Come to us with a plan of how you are going to improve the lives of those people." AIC Councillor Abel Kiwit said there is a perception that alternative methods have to be used to obtain a small piece of earth to build a shack.