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Peter Matika, [email protected] 

More than a 100 beneficiaries of the Government-funded Hlalani Kuhle housing project in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb who developed their residential stands without council documentation risk losing their properties.

In a statement, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) town clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, revealed that there are 105 residential stands under the Hlalani Kuhle housing project in the sprawling suburb that do not have council documentation.

Mr Dube urged the owners of such residential stands to visit the Cowdray Park Housing Office to regularise their properties. He said failure to comply with the council housing policy by 4 September will ultimately lead to the repossession of the properties.

“Beneficiaries of the Hlalani Kuhle/Garikai Housing Scheme who developed their stands without council documentation or being regularised, are required to call at the Cowdray Park Housing Office to sort their stands paperwork administratively as per council housing policy,” said Mr Dube.

According to the council notice, the applicants should be on the handover files as of April 2012 from the Bulawayo Home Seekers Consortium Trust and the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities.

They are also supposed to produce an allocation letter from the ministry, an offer letter from the council, and an affidavit confirming whether developments on the stands were done by the claimant.

Certified copies of national identity documents, proof of payment for the land and active housing waiting list forms are some of the requirements needed for the regularisation process.

Mr Dube said the 30-day ultimatum does not include illegal development since those that fall under that category will be dealt with legally in terms of council by-laws.

“All residents are required to be vigilant and secure their stands as per survey pegs shown to all beneficiaries. Failure to comply will result in the affected stands being repossessed and re-allocated to other deserving beneficiaries on the council’s housing waiting list,” he said.

Mr Sipho Ncube, a resident in Cowdray Park, said it is important for people to comply with the council directive to avoid losing their properties.

“I understand the significance of having my property documents in order. Regularising my stand and house gives me an assurance that my family’s future is secure. I fully support the council’s efforts to address this issue,” he said.

Another resident who preferred to remain anonymous, said the council’s initiative to streamline the regularisation process demonstrates its commitment to enhancing transparency and accountability.

“By encouraging residents to formalise their property ownership, BCC aims to promote sustainable urban development and empower individuals to take ownership of their assets,” she said.

In May, BCC announced that more than US$30 million is needed to complete the servicing of Cowdray Park’s 15 000 Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle housing development.

The suburb has no proper roads, sewer and water reticulation system.

The Hlalani Kuhle housing project, which was a self-financing scheme, sought to service about 15 524 stands with roads, sewer and water reticulation at an estimated cost of US$46 million. 

At the time of the handover in 2012, BCC met Hlalani Kuhle residents and agreed that beneficiaries pay a monthly US$50 contributions towards servicing the area. 

Residents, according to a council report, have been struggling to pay the monthly US$50 which forced the local authority to reduce it to US$15.

Records show that about 75 percent of the beneficiaries failed to pay the US$50 a month.

The council has since engaged donors and other development partners to assist with resources to complete the servicing of the new suburb. The Australian government has since donated water and sewer pipes as its contribution.