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Almost six years after brand new housing units in Williston were abandoned and left to the mercy of vandals by the Northern Cape provincial government, the Democratic Alliance wants the remaining structures to be handed over to residents in need of homes, who are willing to take them over as fixer-uppers.

The housing units were initially meant to serve as nursing accommodations for a new hospital that was to be built in Amandelboom. Following negotiations, a new reservoir was constructed by Karoo-Hoogland municipality to provide a direct water line to the hospital and the housing units. A direct power line was also erected.

After the housing units were built, the hospital project fell through, and the luxury units that were fully equipped with televisions, couches, and even cutlery and crockery, were simply locked up and deserted. For many years, the units remained unused but intact. Eventually, the content was removed, and at around the time of Covid, vandalism of the units began.

The houses were slowly stripped, leaving behind shells of structures. See pics here, here, here and here.

In all this time, neither the Departments of Roads and Public Works, nor Health, did anything to stop the destruction, nor did they lay criminal charges. Given that the houses are built on municipal land, the department also never made an effort to contact Karoo-Hoogland to assist in putting the units to use.

The provincial government is not concerned that they have wasted millions of rands on unused housing or about what happens to them. They have shown zero accountability.

While doors, windows, zinc roofs, basins, and more have been stolen, the structures still have good sandstone walls and a solid foundation and could be fairly easily renovated at a relatively low cost. The structures are also serviced with water, sanitation, and electricity connections.

I will table the proposal to hand over the structures to housing beneficiaries who are willing to make the required repairs at the next council meeting. While the provincial government has no regard for taxpayers’ money, the DA does.

There is no place for wastage of financial or other resources in these difficult times. If these structures can give someone a much-needed leg up to a better future, then rather than letting them go to absolute ruin.

Issued by Johan van der Colff, Cllr - Mayor of Karoo Hoogland municipality