MINISTRY FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 397
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19 FEBRUARY 2016
Mr S M Gana (DA) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements:
(1) Whether, with regard to the Marikana Ext 2 Housing Development in the
North West, the list of beneficiaries for the houses has been
completed; if not, why not; if so, (a) who was consulted in the
compilation of the specified list, (b) where do the beneficiaries come
from and (c) are mineworkers earmarked to benefit from the rental
units;
(2) (a) how many units have been illegally occupied since 1 January 2016,
(b) who are the culprits, (c) what is being done to ensure that no
more units are illegally occupied and (d) how many persons have been
arrested in this regard;
(3) (a) how many units have been vandalised since 1 January 2016 and (b)
what has been the cost of repairing the damage;
(4) whether a case of damage to property has been opened with the police
due to the vandalism; if not, why not; if so, how many persons have
been arrested? NW410E
REPLY:
(1) (a) & (b) The list of beneficiaries for subsidised housing was
finalised prior to the construction of houses as per the housing
policy by the Rustenburg Municipality. A total of four settlements
being the catchment area were identified for beneficiaries to be
allocated in consultation with the Ward Councillor and Ward Committee.
The areas identified were Marikana West, Lapologang, Marasmus and
Mabomfana informal settlements in the Greater Marikana area. A
household audit was conducted with Community Representatives and Ward
Committee members, by the Rustenburg Municipalityâs Directorate: Human
Settlements and a list of potential qualifying beneficiaries was
generated. On the weekend of 3rd â 5th October 2014 and 13th â 14th
December 2014, the community from the settlements was requested to
avail themselves for completion of subsidy application forms at the
Marikana Community hall.
(c) The majority of the employed households consists of mine workers and
they have been earmarked to benefit in the rental units and have been
part of the Steering Committee for the project. No BNG units have been
allocated to mineworkers.
(2) (a) A total of approximately 150 subsidised units have been illegally
occupied since the 1st of January 2016.
(b) The preliminary investigation shows that a combination of mine
workers and members of the community are alleged to have occupied the
units illegally.
(c) The municipality interacted with the SAPS and made available the
list of the houses that have been illegally occupied, and a list of
the approved beneficiaries which was drawn up by the Municipality was
also made available to SAPS to assist in removing the illegal
invaders. To prevent future illegal invasion, the contractor,
Community Liaison Officer and the Municipality will ensure that the
approved beneficiaries take occupancy immediately after the units have
been completed.
(d) A case of trespassing and vandalism was opened with SAPS, (CAS
11/02/2016), and five people have been arrested to date.
(3) (a) A total of 132 subsidised housing units have been vandalized
since January 2016.
(b) The cost of repairing all the vandalised units is estimated at
R660, 000 (six hundred and sixty thousand rand) the Department has not
incurred any costs thus far, in the repair thereof.
(4) A case of malicious damage to property was opened at the Marikana
police station, (CAS 11/02/2016) by Rustenburg Local Municipality. A
total of five people have so far been arrested in connection to the
damage to property to the subsidized units.
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