KNYSNA NEWS - Dozens of residents from the Greater Knysna neighbourhood of Bloemfontein and Qolweni are angered by ward councillor Velile Waxa's intervening in a housing development in that area.
They say the committee of residents initiated the development of houses and that the groundwork has been done without any help from the councillor.
More than 300 houses are being built there to address a housing shortage.
According to community spokesperson Ace Faku, they had been awaiting feedback from the municipality regarding slabs and structure, when Waxa intervened and apparently stopped the housing manager from continuing with the project.
The residents say they subsequently approached the municipal manager and wrote a letter to him – but received no response.
On Wednesday 21 February, a group of at least 20 people visited the municipality and wanted to see municipal manager Kam Chetty, but were chased out of the building.
“We returned on 23 February, in large numbers. We demanded to see Chetty but were told that he is out of town. So we requested to see the mayor,” Faku says.
“Eventually the mayor gave us five minutes, which is all we had asked for. We explained our situation and insisted that the ward councillor be stopped from interfering. We were given the assurance that he would not stand in our way.”
Faku says the community was wary of what they termed "tricks of politicians".
“We made it clear that the community would be mobilised if the councillor intervened in our project. We don't trust him.”
Upon enquiry, the municipality responded as follows: “The statement that the project has stopped is factually incorrect.
"A tender for the construction of 150 dwellings was advertised and is currently in its evaluation process.
"Once the supply chain process is complete, construction will commence. The community is well aware of the process.”
The municipality also stated that following a visit by some residents to the municipal offices on 21 February, a public information meeting was held on Monday 26 February to update the residents on the status of the project, where they were explained that the supply chain process was currently ongoing.
Faku says the community was wary of what they termed "tricks of politicians".
• Waxa responded saying that the residents do not want to accept the fact that he is a ward councillor.
“In my opinion this is just politics, and they hope that by doing this there will be a by-election and that they can be seen as candidates.
"I did not get involved in the project, I only suggested a venue for a meeting, but they insisted on another venue.
"And this is where a disagreement occurred. I believe it is only for this reason that they reacted the way they did. No project was stopped, they are just wishful for a by-election.”
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