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The Reahola Complex in Matjhabeng Local Municipality, with its 405 housing units and almost 2000 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.

Over 20 years ago, the mine allegedly donated the complex to the Free State Department of Human Settlements, but the ownership is now in dispute, with contradictory replies to questions in the Provincial Legislature, variously stating that the complex is owned by Harmony Gold, or by the Reahola Residents Association, or by FS government. 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.

The fact that the ANC-led government could not sort out the ownership and management of this potential housing opportunity in twenty years is an indictment of that government and a betrayal of the people of Matjhabeng. Other Community Residential Units in the Free State have been equally disastrous. The flagship Brandwag Complex in Mangaung is now a drug den with criminals having hijacked parts of it, while the G-Block complex in Matjhabeng has been ‘under construction’ for eight years and is currently standing abandoned.

The DA will submit questions to the MEC in the Free State Legislature and in the NCOP to the Minister responsible for DMRE and Human Settlements regarding this matter.

Issued by Leona Kleynhans - DA Human Settlements Spokesperson in the Free State Legislature