GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - A group of disgruntled Selfbou residents are against RDP houses being built on a piece of vacant land in their area. This comes after a project involving 11 houses was shut down two weeks ago when the residents allegedly first heard of the project.
Portfolio councillor Pieter Koeberg, community members and various municipal officials met at the site on Sunday 27 June to discuss a way forward.
The project, which dates back more than seven years, forms part of a previous incomplete housing project from Mandela Park. According to Koeberg, the municipality and national Department of Human Settlement have already approved the land for the project.
Director of Infrastructure Services, Bennie Arendse, was one of the speakers. However, the meeting quickly turned volatile when Arendse said the land belongs to the municipality and residents have no legal grounds or input in this regard. He asked the community for their support to allow the housing project to continue.
Some residents said they will not be bullied into the municipality's plans as they were never consulted in the first place. They said the local municipality's plan to build RDP houses in the area will ruin the communities heritage. The name "Selfbou" derived from previous years when residents were able to buy plots of land to build their own houses. Some warned the officials, saying they will destroy any structures that are being built on the land.
Ward councillor, Joy Williams, also came under fire with some residents accusing her of being a liar and a fraud. When asked to address the crowd Williams denied any knowledge of the building plans.
"I was undermined and never consulted from the beginning, therefore I do not have any answers for the community at this stage," she said.
Williams told Councillor Koeberg if he had consulted her from the beginning she would've told him about the important bond and history of the Selfbou community. She has urged the community to direct all their questions and grievances to Koeberg since he initiated discussions without her knowledge.
"Discussions are currently at a sensitive stage," said Koeberg. He said they also have 98 houses that will be built at various sites across town. He added the municipality has until mid-December 2021 to complete both projects. "And if both projects are not complete, the funds might be allocated to another municipality."
Residents have urged the municipality to adhere to their demands and to help preserve the culture of the Selfbou community.
They said the land should be put up for sale and allowed to be purchased as it has been done in previous years.
The meeting concluded with the municipality and the residents not reaching an agreement. The residents have started a petition and are expected to hand it over to the mayor's office.
Police officers are monitoring the situation closely.
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