Pay for your stay or face eviction, public works tells government employees living in state houses

North West public works and roads MEC Gaoage Oageng Molapisi has told government employees who live in state houses to pay for their accommodation or face eviction.

Molapisi made the call after tenants' blatant refusal to pay for their accommodation. 

During an executive management committee (EMC) meeting it was reported that among the many challenges confronting the department was its inability to collect revenue at state-owned properties and nonpayment of monthly rental by tenants for several years.

“The maintenance of state properties, including renovations, and ensuring the state receives revenue collected from rental and usage of these properties remains our responsibility. We must therefore do this diligently and without fail. 

“It is disingenuous for government employees to have a sense of entitlement to government-owned properties to such an extent that they refuse to pay rent or for water and electricity. Due processes should follow and everyone found in breach of contract and failing to pay must be evicted,” said Molapisi.

Public works and roads department head Moss Kgantsi issued a notice of eviction in line with the MEC’s directive. 

A service provider has been appointed to assist the department in effecting the applications for eviction and provide debt collection services. 

Earlier this year, public works and infrastructure minister Patricia de Lille revealed public-funded mansions occupied by ministers and their deputies in Cape Town and Pretoria are collectively worth more than R967m.

The number of houses occupied by ministers and deputy ministers in Cape Town and Pretoria is 97. In Cape Town, 26 ministers and 32 deputy ministers live in state-owned residences, while in Pretoria the numbers are 14 and 25 respectively. 

In a response to a written parliamentary question from DA MP Leon Schreiber, De Lille said the homes in Cape Town are worth nearly R830m and those in Pretoria nearly R137m.

Ministers and their deputies also receive free water and electricity up to R5,000 a month and the government spends R2.6m on generators for ministerial homes.

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.