CTMM
Munitoria Building
Pretoria/ Tshwane
By Hand
Copies by email: GlookD@tshwane.gov.za
Attention: Dr Gwen Ramokgopa
13 August2008
Questions regarding Mamelodi
Hostels
Dear Madam Mayor
The following questions to be answered in Council, in accordance with Clause 10 of the Rules & Orders:
Noting the appalling conditions prevailing at the Mamelodi hostels, where approximately 10’000 people reside, and where, despite numerous court orders to force the Municipality to rectify the situation, the situation continues to worsen (blocked & overflowing toilets; leaking and unusable showers; rubbish all around; countless broken windows; leaking roofs, etc. ), I therefore pose the following questions. :
1.
What is the Maintenance Budget for the Mamelodi Hostels for
the current year?
2.
Is that budget sufficient to adequately address the issues
mentioned in the preamble above?
3.
What annual amount is required to adequately address the
maintenance issues listed above?
4.
If sufficient funds have not been budgeted, what is the
Mayor’s plan to increase the allocation?
5.
By when will all the issues listed in the preamble above be
rectified?
Noting further that the Portfolio Committee for Housing and Sustainable Development (PC) visited the Atteridgeville Hostels in 2007, but that the ANC members of the PC refused to visit the Mamelodi Hostels in 2008 to perform an in-loco inspection, I pose the following additional question:
6.
By when will the Mayor ensure that the Portfolio Committee
for Housing and Sustainable Development performs a detailed in-loco
inspection of the Mamelodi Hostels?
Noting further that 98 “family units” have been built at a cost of approximately R40million – i.e. a unit cost of more than R400’000 (versus a Provincial subsidy of R37’000), and assuming that an average of 6 people will occupy a “family unit”, it will cost approximately R67k to accommodate each person. That means a total of more than R600 million will be required to accommodate the approximately 9’500 people living in the hostels. The budget for the current year (08/09) is R18 million (<3% of the required amount). If funding continues at that rate, it will take 33 years to complete the new units! I therefore pose the following additional questions:
7.
By when does the Mayor aim to have alternative accommodation
completed for all the eligible Mamelodi hostel residents?
8.
How will the required R600million be financed?
9.
If the Mayor has alternative plans to house the residents,
could she please indicate these?
10.
What monthly rental does the Mayor believe is affordable for
the existing hostel residents?
11.
What rentals does the Mayor intend charging for the new
family units?
12.
Could the Mayor please provide a list of names of those
eligible for the new family units (in order of precedence), as well as
the criteria used to determine who gets preference.
Kindly note that similar questions have been posed to the MMC for Housing, Mr Absalom Ditshoke in October 2007. A copy of the email - dated 26 October 2007 - to MMC Ditshoke is attached. This email was followed up by a letter addressed to the MMC dated 24 February 2008 (also attached). No written responses have been received from the MMC.
Regards
Richard Dinkelmann (Councillor)
ACDP Caucus Leader: Tshwane Metro
| Attachments: | Email to MMC Ditshoke dated 26 October 2007 (1 sheet) |
| Letter to MMC Ditshoke dated 24 February 2008 (2 sheets) |