DA RAISED ALARM ON MILLIONS LOST ON THE POLOKWANE MUNICIPALITY LOW-COST HOUSE PROJECT

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Low cost housing at Ga-Rena in Ladanna, Polokwane

The Democratic Alliance in Limpopo is demanding accountability from the Polokwane Housing Association (PHA) over the R8.5 million lost in Polokwane Municipality’s low-cost housing project. DA councilor Jacques Joubert says the PHA board and executive must explain the deficit, given that they receive R10 million annually from the municipality.

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Jacques Joubert, DA councillor on finance

Joubert attributed the deficit to the board’s alleged corruption and failure to fulfill its mandate. DA has also called on the Polokwane municipality to halt the bailout to the Association, as this is affecting service delivery.

“For far too long, the PHA executive management and board have relied on bailouts from the Polokwane municipality, placing a financial burden on the shoulders of the city residents. This cannot be allowed to continue” Joubert says.

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Dilapited infrastructure at Ga-Rena housing project

Polokwane Housing Association board chairperson Kgosi Setlamorago Thobejane responded to the DA’s allegations, stating that the R8.5 million is not a deficit, but rather an estimated calculation of its housing units that have depreciated over time.

Kgosi Setlamorago Thobejane clarified that the R10 million received from the municipality is a subsidy, not a bailout. He also denied allegations of financial mismanagement, citing that the Association recently received a clean audit for the first time.