Umzingwane residents to lose housing stands

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UMZINGWANE Rural District Council plans to repossess more than 300 housing stands whose leases expired, including those issued under the Garikai-Hlalani Kahle programme.

UMZINGWANE Rural District Council plans to repossess more than 300 housing stands whose leases expired, including those issued under the Garikai-Hlalani Kahle programme.

Nqobile Bhebhe Chief Reporter

The deadline for owners to renew their leases is August 30. “Holders of such leases who are still interested in their stands are advised to call in person at the council officers to renew their leases and clear all rates due,” the local authority said in a notice on Sunday.

“Failure to renew expired leases or to make payment plans by the above date (August 30) will leave council with no option, but to repossess the stands and allocate them to new applicants in the waiting list.”

According to the notice, 30 stands are under Garikai section, 93 are in Ncema Park (93), while there are 81 in Habane high-density suburb.

At low-density areas there are 53 stands, Habaneinfills (16), Mawabeni high-density residential (23), Mawabeni industrial (14), Mawabeni commercial (eight) and 10 stands are in Mawabeni medium density area.According to most local authority regulations, if an owner fails to develop a stand for two years, the council can repossess it without paying any compensation.

An official with the local authority, who identified himself as Ndebele, said they will only be able to comment today. “The chief executive officer (Ndumiso Mpofu) is attending meetings and we will only comment on Tuesday (today),” he said.

In 2005 the government embarked on Operation Murambatsvina destroying several houses which it deemed illegal structures. It then embarked on Operation Garikai-Hlalani Kahle, where it provided stands for construction of new houses. However, most of these stands have remained undeveloped.