By Celani Sikhakhane
The MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal has allayed the fears of families who have occupied over 300 luxury government homes, saying he has no plans to evict them.
Martin Meyer of the DA was speaking in Nongoma on Thursday. He told Scrolla.Africa his officials found about 600 illegally occupied properties in Ulundi.
“The issue of the homes surfaced as part of ongoing audits on asset ownership and usage by the department,” Meyer said.
“It has since emerged that some families and individuals have occupied the homes for as much as 30 years. This makes the matter more complex, and as a result, the utmost sensitivity will be adopted when dealing with the issue.”
Meyer said the law protects those occupying the buildings, so every action dealing with them must be lawful.
In 2013, it was found that the illegal tenants, including doctors, nurses, police officers, and magistrates, owed over R100-million for unpaid electricity bills.
The MEC said the municipalities where hijacked buildings are situated will be roped in to find a solution while addressing the issue of revenue collection.
The MEC’s remarks came after he was attacked on social media by some of the people who stay in the houses built for the former KwaZulu government administration before 1994. Some said that Meyer would evict them because he was with the DA.
People on the Umkhonto Wesizwe party’s WhatsApp groups also attacked Meyer, claiming that this was why the party was against the government of national unity, which includes the DA.
On Wednesday, Siphamandla Ntombela of the National Freedom Party in Zululand said Meyer should talk to the families living in the houses before evicting them.
“These families have taken care of the houses and stopped them from being used by criminals,” Ntombela said.
Pictured above: KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer says no one will be evicted from the luxury government houses in Ulundi.
Source: X
