“We were allocated shacks – where are our houses?”

RESIDENTS of Linda Mkhonto in Harrismith, Free State, still await their houses a year after the provincial government relocated them and placed them in shacks.

The residents said they were allocated shacks in April 2020 with the promise that the government would build them houses this year.

To add to their misery, the residents had to dig pit toilets while also walking long distances to fetch water.

Siyabonga Makhubo, one of the disgruntled residents, said the promised houses were not built.

“The plan was to build us tworoom houses, and we were supposed to find those houses when we got here last year. We were shocked when we saw the one-room shacks,” he said, adding that when they demanded answers, they were told these were temporary structures.

“They told us that the houses will be built this year, and they will remove these shacks. But we are still waiting until this day. Right now, we are confused because we don’t know what is really happening in this area. They also promised to provide electricity in June and nothing happened,” said the 29-year-old.

Nthabiseng Mahlangu complained that her shack is too tiny to accommodate her family and furniture.

“Only a bed and wardrobe can fit in the shack and I can’t even use it because it is too tiny to accommodate me and my three kids. We were told that the houses will follow this year but I don’t see it happening because they haven’t appointed a contractor,” said the 30-year-old mother.

The situation is dire for Thembi Tshabalala, who has to go to the open field to relieve herself.

“We don’t even know why we were allocated shacks. We were told to move in. The toilets were also full and I had to go to the open field. I have four children and imagine what would have happened if I didn’t extend it (the shack). This is an abuse from the government because we are also forced to walk a long distance to fetch water from the police station.”

At a communal tap, outside the area, Mapaseka Mohokare is waiting in the queue to fetch water. She said she had been waiting there for more than 30 minutes.

However, the Free State Human Settlement spokesperson Motale Sebego has denied that shacks were built to replace houses, saying the structures were built in an attempt by the municipality and his department to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Through the informal settlement programme, the department augmented the shacks they already lived in. Maluti-a-Phofung has appointed a service provider to undertake the full township establishment of Linda Mkhonto. Once this process is completed, the department will then commence with the installation of basic municipal services.

“The cost incurred by the department in building those shacks totals R24 000 per unit. This amount includes R2 400 ablution facility per unit and R300 for their relocation,” added Sebego.