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| The appalling look of Itsoseng. |
For the past 18 years, residents of Itsoseng phases 6 and 8’s lack of service delivery frustrations have worsened to such an extent that public protector, Thuli Madonsela was approached for help in July.
In a letter sent to Madonsela’s office, the Itsoseng Concerned Residents Committee (ICRC) requested the public protector to probe the service delivery plight that has befallen the community.
“The community wants electricity for all as a priority and houses built on 900sqm yards and proper infrastructural development,” read the letter.
The committee further appealed to Madonsela to investigate corruption by local ward councillor, William Baloyi who is suspected of selling stands to people who do not live in Itsoseng.
“Houses are being allocated to people who do not belong in Itsoseng. We suspect there are people who are selling stands,” the letter continued.
According to community leader John Motaung, the community’s problems emanated from a municipality decision to force residents to subdivide their 900sqm yards to accommodate other people in 2000. When they refused they were told that they would not get basic services.
“Councillors said we should subdivide our stands. We refused because we fought for our yards against Lucas Mangope and they said we would not get service delivery,” said Motaung.
Motaung said they approached the courts and the national department of housing for help.
A court interdict by the Mafikeng High Court was issued to prevent the municipality from continuing with its plans.
Motaung said the department of housing concluded that it was residents’ choice whether they wanted to subdivide their yards and that if yards were divided it would affect Eskom’s budget and planning.
However, the municipality continued to force residents to subdivide their stands using the metro police, said Motaung.
He said, furthermore, the municipality installed electricity and built houses for residents who agreed to subdivide their stands and this had divided the community.
According to Motaung destitute residents lived in shabby shacks that are prone to fire and floods.
He said they pleaded with Baloyi several times to help them but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
Speaking on behalf of Baloyi, a council worker who refused to give Rekord her name said: “As far as I am concerned there are developments in Itsoseng. I do not know what these people are talking about. There is no corruption or something of that sort. ”
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| The community is surrounded by rocks and forests. |
Motaung claimed that the last time they saw Baloyi was on 31 July 2011.
Motaung reiterated that in February they approached The Tshwane metro's executive mayor Kgosientsho Ramokgopa requesting him to help the community overcome its service delivery woes.
He said Ramokgopa had not responded.
The metro's housing provision strategic executive director Nomasonto Ndlovu said an inquiry had been sent to the Housing Provision Management and is receiving relevant attention.
“A service provider has been appointed to do a feasibility study on the current water and sewer network because it has not been handed over formally to the Water and Sanitation Division for maintenance purpose,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu further said the study would probe possible future provision of both water and sewerage services to Itsoseng.
“The Housing and Human Settlement will provide an update with regard to the progress made and the Ward Councillor will also be informed accordingly,” she said.
Motaung said Madonsela promised to look further into the matter and urged the community to be patient.
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