DA member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Leona Kleynhans, revealed during the department's budget speech debate that at least 228 projects of the department have been blocked. She says this was revealed by MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mxolisi Dukwana, through an answer he provided in the Legislature. 

Kleynhans told MPLs during the debate at the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein that Dukwana stated 228 projects to build 8 836 houses has stopped and nothing is happening. These houses are just standing there - unfinished.

The reply also says 320 houses have been illegally occupied. "I can testify that many of these illegal occupations are by municipal officials. Some eviction orders have been sought from the court but these are opposed and appealed. Leaving the rightful beneficiaries still waiting. Speaker, this is an outrage,” she adds.

She says over 240 000 people are on a waiting list with informal settlements continuing to pop up and grow every single day and people are being forced to put up shacks and mud houses.

“We know that in the last financial year the department forfeited R20 million in unspent funds, back to National Treasury. We know that in the previous year, R100 million was forfeited,” Kleynhans added.

On Tuesday, MEC Mxolisi Dukwana tabled his first departmental budget speech since assuming office. He told Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) and those who were in attendance that “the prudent management of financial resources is an absolute necessity".

Also read: Free State department forfeited unspent R20m to Northern Cape

He said his department has made modest and bold strides in ensuring that it remains committed to the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and the Public Audit Act, as amended. He, however, mentioned that the road ahead remains steep and challenging.

Dukwana also vowed to eradicate the controversial asbestos roofing.

Delivering his departmental budget speech for 2022/23, Dukwana assured what he terms, the victims of asbestos, that eradication will be done in due course. Currently over 13 people, including former premier Ace Magashule, are facing varying charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering in the Free State High Court over the alleged looting of R255 million in the failed 2014 project.

Also read: Dukwana vows to eradicate controversial asbestos roofing

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