Cosatu has called for "heads to roll" in the Harrismith toilets-for-sale scandal, and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale is considering launching a full investigation.

This follows contradictory information from the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality, which erected the toilets in the veld.

Last week the municipality told residents that they would have to pay R12000 each to occupy the stands on which the toilets had been built.

"I will look into conducting an investigation. That is why we are here," Sexwale said after visiting the area yesterday.

Community members maintain that they were told that the 554 serviced stands with flushing toilets would be sold for R12000 each.

But municipal manager Stephen Kau yesterday claimed the community had been kept informed that 311 low-cost houses would be built and handed over to the poor free of charge.

He said the remaining stands would be sold to residents who did not qualify for low-cost houses or did not earn enough to qualify for mortgage bonds.

Though the municipality denied it was planning to sell the stands, residents told Sexwale at a meeting in Tshiame that municipal officials had repeatedly told them that the stands were for sale.

A resident who identified herself as Mpho told Sexwale: "I went [to the municipality] with R5000 to pay and sign my name. When I was told the price had increased to R10 000 I went on strike."

Mpho Skhosana said: "We would not have gone to the media if they had not told us that all the stands were for sale. They told us it's R10000. We had a meeting with them - they are lying to you."

Skhosana was referring to a meeting on Monday, attended by The Times, at which officials told the community that the stands would be sold for between R10 000 and R12 000.

Ward councillor Moeketsi Mofana last week told The Times that all the stands were for sale.

Sexwale said: "I'll be watching this. I'm not here for the last time. Our anti-corruption campaign applies across South Africa without fear or favour. I came here because I was told toilets were being subjected to corrupt practices."

He said the problem was that "we are involved in the politics of politics instead of the politics of development".

"Politics of politics must come to an end. We won't sell toilets. If anyone bought a toilet, they must come to me so that those responsible are dealt with. "

People should not play political football with development, he said, adding that people wanted service delivery.

But Wessels Mdakane said: "We're not finished, we're not satisfied. There is no delivery."

Ernest Lekaota said: "What they are saying now is not what they said on Monday."