The Military Veterans (Milvets) in the Goldfields are angered and offended by the continual snub from the Department of Human Settlements to solve their housing dilemma.
In 2017 a massive housing project for Milvets was initiated in the Goldfields, but six years later only one house of the 62 promised is practically completed.
Lebakeng Abraham Mokolutlo, acting secretary of the Milvets, says the first contractor was appointed and disappeared.
“We handed in a memorandum for the replacement of the contractor, but Human Settlement kept quiet.”
Mokolutlo, whose combat name was Jordan Nxele, says the entire situation since 2017 has angered the Milvets.
“In 2019 the second contractor was appointed, and he constructed 20 houses in Riebeeckstad, but it was very poor workmanship,” he says.
The second phase of the project in Rheederpark started around 2021. Two years later, there are five completed houses, but only one is complete inside and outside. The majority, 16 houses, remain uncomplete.
In Phomolong only one site was allocated, but no construction has been done here. In Rheederpark the contractor has abandoned the site.
Mokolutlo says apart from the conflicting communications and reports, the Milvets are being sidelined and have not even been afforded the opportunity of employment at the sites in Odendaalsrus, Welkom, or Riebeeckstad.
- “We consider the tardiness and delays and incomplete work as a serious violation of our human rights and a violation of the Military Veterans Act. We feel undermined and disrespected. We demand that we are allowed to meet with the premier and other high-ranking government officials in this regard.” At the time of going to press, the Free State Department of Human Settlement did not respond to a media enquiry in this regard.
