The Democratic Alliance in the Msunduzi Local Municipality has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request to the National Department of Human Settlements for access to the Jika Joe Community Residential Unit (CRU) housing list.
Msunduzi Municipality has been beset by protests as Jika Joe Informal Settlement residents have expressed discontent over a number of issues ranging from the allocation of housing to the qualifying criteria at the newly completed Jika Joe CRU’s.
The confusion and lack of transparency over who the recipients of these units are is a point of contention. Residents in Jika Joe have expressed concern that ANC interference will see politically-connected cronies and residents from outside of the Msunduzi Municipality assuming tenancy of the flats.
The frustration experienced by Jika Joe residents is understandable as government continues to fail them. The ongoing protests, however, continue to cause great disruption in Msunduzi to the detriment of business and residents alike. Msunduzi can ill-afford any further degradation as serious water and electricity outages already continue to plague the city’s residents and undermine its local economy. A transparent housing list and feasible resolution must be achieved as quickly as possible.
The DA will continue to push for a transparent housing list that is fair whilst we will do our best to provide oversight to ensure that those who qualify are indeed the most deserving. Whilst we are aware that the housing list is not the only point of contention amongst residents, a transparent housing list is a significant step in the right direction towards achieving consensus.