Claims that plots were exchanged for sex
HUNDREDS of residents of Makhaza in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, took to the streets at the weekend to complain about their ANC councillor, who allegedly put a stop to a new housing development project.
The residents, who claimed that they were supposed to be the beneficiaries of the new Ithembalabantu housing project, alleged that ANC councillor Danile Khatshwa and his friends had stopped construction on the project.
But Khatshwa says the project is riddled with corruption and that the former ward forum sold the land to certain people, thereby pushing the legitimate beneficiaries out of the way.
Khatshwa is backed by the leader of the Makhaza backyarders, Lulamile Mkhumelwano, who claimed the "former ward forum gave some plots away in exchange for sex".
The problem in the area allegedly started two weeks ago when about 96 people vacated their plots so that construction could start.
But then, "Khatshwa's cronies barricaded the roads with burning tyres and turned back construction trucks loaded with material, saying they were never informed about the project". resident Nobuntu Mbude said.
Mbude said the project was approved by the department of human settlements in 2009 and residents are now concerned that they could end up landless and homeless.
"We asked our neighbours and friends to stay in their places, thinking we would be back in our houses within three weeks, but now we do not know how long it is going to take," Mbude said.
She accused Khatshwa of wanting to secure the houses for his followers.
Resident Zoliswa Mabatho said they had called Khatshwa to a meeting but he refused to come.
"He said he was busy with the ANC annual general meeting. We were shocked and confused. How can he hold an ANC AGM without us members of the ANC who also want to be part of the AGM?" Mabatho asked.
Ithembalabantu housing project head Lwazi Ngwane said the beneficiaries had been approved by the department of human settlements in 2009.
"This project was established in 2005 with 300 beneficiaries but was blocked in 2007 after allegations of corruption. It was unblocked in 2009. The councillor has now disrupted the process," Ngwane said.
Khatshwa rejected all the allegations against him.
"I have no right to block service delivery. The project was blocked because members of its former steering committee, including Ngwane, sold plots," he said.
Khatshwa accused backyard dwellers of blocking roads and burning tyres. He said he had refused to meet the committee because he "did not trust them".
"I told them that I'm not comfortable meeting them unless the police were present because when I was on the phone arranging a meeting, I heard some of them in the background saying 'mayizapha lenja, sizakuyibonisa' (this dog must come here, we will show him)," he said.
Human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela's spokesperson, Nathan Adrianse, failed to respond to questions from Sowetan.
'Councillor stopped our housing project'
Claims that plots were exchanged for sex
HUNDREDS of residents of Makhaza in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, took to the streets at the weekend to complain about their ANC councillor, who allegedly put a stop to a new housing development project.
The residents, who claimed that they were supposed to be the beneficiaries of the new Ithembalabantu housing project, alleged that ANC councillor Danile Khatshwa and his friends had stopped construction on the project.
But Khatshwa says the project is riddled with corruption and that the former ward forum sold the land to certain people, thereby pushing the legitimate beneficiaries out of the way.
Khatshwa is backed by the leader of the Makhaza backyarders, Lulamile Mkhumelwano, who claimed the "former ward forum gave some plots away in exchange for sex".
The problem in the area allegedly started two weeks ago when about 96 people vacated their plots so that construction could start.
But then, "Khatshwa's cronies barricaded the roads with burning tyres and turned back construction trucks loaded with material, saying they were never informed about the project". resident Nobuntu Mbude said.
Mbude said the project was approved by the department of human settlements in 2009 and residents are now concerned that they could end up landless and homeless.
"We asked our neighbours and friends to stay in their places, thinking we would be back in our houses within three weeks, but now we do not know how long it is going to take," Mbude said.
She accused Khatshwa of wanting to secure the houses for his followers.
Resident Zoliswa Mabatho said they had called Khatshwa to a meeting but he refused to come.
"He said he was busy with the ANC annual general meeting. We were shocked and confused. How can he hold an ANC AGM without us members of the ANC who also want to be part of the AGM?" Mabatho asked.
Ithembalabantu housing project head Lwazi Ngwane said the beneficiaries had been approved by the department of human settlements in 2009.
"This project was established in 2005 with 300 beneficiaries but was blocked in 2007 after allegations of corruption. It was unblocked in 2009. The councillor has now disrupted the process," Ngwane said.
Khatshwa rejected all the allegations against him.
"I have no right to block service delivery. The project was blocked because members of its former steering committee, including Ngwane, sold plots," he said.
Khatshwa accused backyard dwellers of blocking roads and burning tyres. He said he had refused to meet the committee because he "did not trust them".
"I told them that I'm not comfortable meeting them unless the police were present because when I was on the phone arranging a meeting, I heard some of them in the background saying 'mayizapha lenja, sizakuyibonisa' (this dog must come here, we will show him)," he said.
Human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela's spokesperson, Nathan Adrianse, failed to respond to questions from Sowetan.
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