GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Once again, the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser has received many complaints about the state of the 137 houses in Bergendal, Umasizakhe and Kroonvale belonging to the Department of Roads and Public Works.

Many of these houses are empty and are overgrown and unkempt.

According to several residents, even those that have tenants are mostly not well cared for - and it is claimed that some of the tenants just dump their rubbish, including used nappies, in the empty areas.

Those Bergendal residents who have built their own houses in what used to be a beautiful area are naturally upset about the overall neglect and filth.

There are many people who try to keep their gardens neat and well-tended, but they are certainly in the minority.

Some even commented that they feel embarrassed when they have visitors who have to drive through the neighbourhood.

When the state of the houses was last raised with Mphumzi Zuzile, media liaison officer of the Department of Roads and Public Works, last October, he confirmed that a decision had been made to dispose of the houses "voetstoots", as no provincial or national government departments were interested in taking them over.

At that time, they were still waiting for a response to a submission forwarded in June 2017 to the General Manager of Immovable Asset Management to recommend to HOD the disposal of these houses through Public Tender or Auction.

Zuzile was contacted again this week to as about progress in this regard.

He admitted that there had been a delay in the issuing of any advertisements for these houses.

However, he was able to report that the information about the 257 houses throughout the Eastern Cape that are affected, will be advertised via print advertisements that would run next week in newspapers such as the Daily Dispatch, Sunday Times, PE Herald, Rapport and Die Burger.

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