The Reahola Complex in Matjhabeng, with its 405 housing units and almost 2 000 residents, has been entirely abandoned by the Free State government and is now allegedly being controlled by slum lords, letting or selling units to residents desperate for housing.
So says Leona Kleynhans, DA Human Settlements spokesperson in the Free State Legislature.
Over 20 years ago, Harmony Gold Mine, then Anglo American, allegedly donated the complex to the Free State Department of Human Settlements.
“The ownership is now in dispute, with contradictory replies to questions in the Provincial Legislature. These replies include that the complex is owned by Harmony Gold, or by the Reahola Residents Association, or by Free State government,” she says.
The Matjhabeng municipality is denying any responsibility, because “residents don’t pay for services”.
“Most tragic about this entire fiasco, is the dire need for social housing in Matjhabeng, while this complex, if properly rehabilitated, maintained, and managed, could largely provide for some of that need.”
Igor Scheurkogel, councillor for this ward, says that when he asked the Free State Department of Human Settlements to help. They told him to ask the Free State Department of Human Settlements. This department then told him they would ask Harmony to assist. Harmony’s stakeholder relations manager says that he does not work with politicians.
“All the official departments who have a role to play ‘excuse’ themselves from assisting the people because of politics,” says Scheurkogel.
At the council meeting on 5 July the mayor presented a resolution to reverse the 2020 resolution to sell properties to the Reahola residents for R30 000 (the then market prices).
They resolved that the new price is R120 000 per unit and anyone (not only the existing residents) can buy units. Council approved the resolution.
“I spoke against it and rejected the resolution,” he says.
“To the senior politicians and officials Reahola is a no-mansland. “No-one wants to take responsibility and start official processes to assist the residents.”
Kleynhans says the fact that the ANC-led government could not sort out the ownership and management of this potential housing opportunity in 20 years is an indictment of that government and a betrayal of the people of Matjhabeng.
