THIEVES are illegally occupying abandoned RDP houses across the small town of Ugie in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
The SunTeam counted more than 200 RDPs in Bhekela kasi that are in a bad condition because they were never occupied by the rightful owners since being built after 1994.
Some of the houses are occupied during the night by young thugs who use them as hideouts to rob people walking home.
Residents said it has become difficult for them to walk freely during the night as rape and other serious crimes have become the order of the day.
Many of the houses are falling apart, while others have been stripped to the ground by chancers who saw free building material such as bricks, windows, doors and roofing.
Resident Ludwe Nokhele told Daily Sun: “It’s an embarrassment that our government has ignored these houses.
“Something needs to be done urgently because the criminals are taking over the RDPs.”
Thokozile Gebenga, the ward committee member at Bhekela, told the People’s Paper the human settlements officials from Bhisho last visited the area in 2013.
She said they had promised to do something about the houses, but nothing has happened yet.
Thokozile also said that about 900 houses across Ugie were affected.
Lwandile Sicwetsha, spokesman for the human settlements department, told the People’s Paper he was unaware of the RDP problem in Ugie.
“We will send our regional office to go and investigate the matter,” said Sicwetsha.
