Note to editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Matthews Sepatala Chabalala and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Linda Louwrens
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Moqhaka Local Municipality will closely monitor the allocation of residential sites to ensure full transparency and public accountability.
The DA acknowledges the recent allocation of residential sites to residents who purchased land in accordance with the 2019 Council Resolution. Although this process comes four years after Council resolved to sell municipal land to qualifying buyers, it represents an important step towards expanding access to home ownership. The programme was not selective in nature, but aimed at accommodating public servants, self-employed individuals, contract workers, private security officers, industrial area employees and other residents able to purchase sites at a value of R17,500 including VAT.
The delay in implementation was largely due to the municipality’s lack of bulk infrastructure. The intervention and support of the Department of Human Settlements played a critical role in appointing a contractor to install bulk services in Extensions 10 and 13. This has enabled the municipality to issue 282 sites to residents, while also contributing to addressing the pressure on the National Housing Needs Register.
While the DA welcomes this progress, it notes with concern that the allocation process was not communicated in advance to members of the Human Settlements Portfolio Committee to allow for proper oversight. Transparent processes strengthen public trust and safeguard fairness.
This allocation is a positive development that can increase municipal revenue through rates and taxes, while advancing the constitutional right of access to adequate housing. The DA will continue to advocate for openness, fairness and accountable governance in all housing matters.