Premier Oscar Mabuyane has come out in defence of government employees who are building mansions in the blossoming Dikidikana and Masingatha villages, shooting down an MPL’s suggestion to look into “tax dodging” and “land grabbing” by officials in Dimbaza.
Mabuyane, responding to a Daily Dispatch article about the new suburb dubbed Rhythm City, also questioned whether the issue was in the remit of the portfolio committee of the office of the premier.
Mabuyane’s spokesperson, Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, said: “It is evident the cost of living in rural villages is cheaper than in urban places.
“It costs less money to access land and to build a house in villages than in urban areas. That is a reality.”
Mabuyane was responding to a call by ANC MPL and committee chair Mzoleli Mrara who has been calling on the government to clamp down on government officials who are “invading” land and building mansions along the R63 in Dikidikana, Dimbaza.
While Sicwetsha said workers were free to build properties on any land that was legally accessible, Mrara said some workers had illegally occupied the land.
“I want to get answers from the office of the premier first. These are invasions,” Mrara said.
“Those people didn’t get permission from the village. The land belongs to the village.
“That land is a camp where animals feed.”
Sicwetsha said there was no evidence that the workers were dodging taxes.
“The consideration should not be just to tax or charge rates but must be to provide services with value for money in a way that promotes growth of these settlements.
“The system of paying rates and taxes means paying for services rendered.
“In cases where services are rendered to sites that are evaluated, connected to municipal or government services, homeowners must pay for services rendered.”
He said Mabuyane was of the view that it was not in his purview to stop workers from building mansions in villages situated close to towns.
“We would be interested to see how the portfolio committee says this issue is part of the mandate and responsibilities of the premier and how they say the premier should be involved in the matter at issue.
“This discussion should be in the context of the implementation of the PDP [provincial development plan] for the growth and development of the province.”
Mike Coleman, of Nahoon, wrote to the Daily Dispatch, saying while the “illegal” mansions issue was widespread in the Eastern Cape, Mrara was misinformed.
Coleman said Mrara should read the public service report which evaluated land administration in the Eastern Cape in 2003, as well as a follow-up 2013 provincial planning commission for the national development plan.
“Both pointed out that neither the premier, nor the municipality, have the jurisdiction over land affairs, which is a national competence.”
Coleman labelled the queries by Mrara as ignorant and “hot air posturing”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.