Residents have accused the Kgetlengrivier local municipality of forcing them to fight each other because of double occupation on single stands.
More than one family is currently occupying single stands that are meant for single families in Kgetleng, Koster, North West.
The residents blame the municipality for failing to plan properly when allocating stands and building RDP houses five years ago.
Letta Mathebula's shack is on stand 3191, attached to an RDP house in the area.
She claims the RDP belongs to her, but was allocated to the "wrong" person.
"This is my stand. I've been living here since 2002 when it was an informal settlement. In 2011, the municipality started building houses and they told me that the house they built in my yard was mine. But when allocation time arrived, I was shocked when my house was given to another family.
"I went to the municipality and was told that the house was mine, but there was nothing they can do to remove those occupants. Even on their computers, the name that appears on this stand is mine."
Itumeleng Moote said he had stopped speaking to his neighbour with whom he shares a stand.
Moote's shack is a few metres away from his neighbour's. Both shacks are electrified and each has its own tap with a single toilet.
"My neighbour and I are not speaking to each other and any time a fight can erupt over this mess caused by the municipality."
Moote's neighbour Jonas Puleng erected his shack between two yards and will not remove his shack until he is allocated an RDP house.
Acting municipal manager Ben Mothogoane confirmed there was in fact an issue of double occupation of stands in the Reagile extensions 6 and 7.
The municipality recorded 328 double occupations and was able to resolve 298 disputes.
"We are aware as the municipality that there are a few cases remaining to be resolved. We have tried all in our powers to conciliate between the parties affected by this, but these specific remaining parties are reluctant to move to alternative stands," Mothogoane said.
"The reality of the situation is that none of the affected parties here is willing to move to alternative sites. All of them feel a sense of entitlement in as far as the occupied stand is concerned."
Double trouble over RDP stand allocation
Residents have accused the Kgetlengrivier local municipality of forcing them to fight each other because of double occupation on single stands.
More than one family is currently occupying single stands that are meant for single families in Kgetleng, Koster, North West.
The residents blame the municipality for failing to plan properly when allocating stands and building RDP houses five years ago.
Letta Mathebula's shack is on stand 3191, attached to an RDP house in the area.
She claims the RDP belongs to her, but was allocated to the "wrong" person.
"This is my stand. I've been living here since 2002 when it was an informal settlement. In 2011, the municipality started building houses and they told me that the house they built in my yard was mine. But when allocation time arrived, I was shocked when my house was given to another family.
"I went to the municipality and was told that the house was mine, but there was nothing they can do to remove those occupants. Even on their computers, the name that appears on this stand is mine."
Itumeleng Moote said he had stopped speaking to his neighbour with whom he shares a stand.
Moote's shack is a few metres away from his neighbour's. Both shacks are electrified and each has its own tap with a single toilet.
"My neighbour and I are not speaking to each other and any time a fight can erupt over this mess caused by the municipality."
Moote's neighbour Jonas Puleng erected his shack between two yards and will not remove his shack until he is allocated an RDP house.
Acting municipal manager Ben Mothogoane confirmed there was in fact an issue of double occupation of stands in the Reagile extensions 6 and 7.
The municipality recorded 328 double occupations and was able to resolve 298 disputes.
"We are aware as the municipality that there are a few cases remaining to be resolved. We have tried all in our powers to conciliate between the parties affected by this, but these specific remaining parties are reluctant to move to alternative stands," Mothogoane said.
"The reality of the situation is that none of the affected parties here is willing to move to alternative sites. All of them feel a sense of entitlement in as far as the occupied stand is concerned."
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