Mixed blessings for Wilsom Tom
2010-01-28
Sabelo Mpana
AFTER having lived in a shack for more than 30 years, an RDP house was erected within a few days for Wilson Tom (86) of Mbekweni after a press enquiry concerning his complaint that the municipality had erected a public toilet on his plot. “I am one of the first people who came to stay here - since then I have been told my house would be built “tomorrow” since the year 1978. “What made me very sad is the fact that my wife died in this shack. I did not want it to happen to me. “My hope was raised when the old public toilet that was standing on my plot was moved along with shacks that were standing around it. All that turned out to be, however, was the installation of a new public toilet for the shack residents.” Within days after a press inquiry, construction of his house started. According to May Carolissen, spokeswoman of Drakenstein Municipality, Tom is a beneficiary of a housing development of 17 units planned in H block. “The project was approved by the Province in June 2004, but Marnol Builders, which was appointed by the beneficiaries to construct the houses, could not commence with the construction of the top structure because there were no services on the site. “The council approved funds for the installation of the services which could not commence as there were 84 informal structures in the way,” explained Carolissen. “The house was constructed while the Municipality was searching for an alternative area to relocate the public toilet to. “In an agreement with the community and Wilson Tom a decision was made that the ablution facility would stay there until the rest of the houses in Block H are developed. This facility is temporary,” she said. Engineers are currently busy with an inspection to decide on ways to service the plots, but it is not yet clear when the houses will be erected.
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