WAITING FOR A HOME: Loyiso High School pupil Steven Pienaar, 16, and his father Willie Tarentaal have been on the streets for more than 10 years. Steven has now been taken to a place of safety Picture: MIKE HOLMES -
A PORT Elizabeth pensioner is still living on the streets, seven months after the Department of Human Settlements pledged to investigate how his RDP house was allocated to a second beneficiary.
The RDP house was allocated to two people, who were both approved for a government-subsidised R64 666 home in Missionvale.
Willie Tarentaal, 64, said: “I have a document that legally states I am a registered home owner.
“All I ask is for the red tape to be removed and for the department to give me my house.”
Tarentaal said his son, Steven Pienaar, aged 16 and in Grade 10 at Loyiso High School in Zwide, had been taken to a place of safety against Tarentaal’s wishes.
Tarentaal said it was rough sleeping on the streets and his suit, shoes and blankets were stolen three weeks ago.
In 2005, Tarentaal approached the department and applied for an RDP house and a plot was allocated to him.
The house was built and on April 16 last year, Tarentaal was approved as the owner of the house. However, that joy was shortlived when he found out that another family took occupation of the house.
Eastern Cape Human Settlements director Koslin Naicker said Tarentaal’s housing saga was among several such cases in Missionavale.
“The municipality is trying to sort it out,” he said.
Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral rapid response team coordinator Zonile Ndoni said they were trying to speed up the process. “It has taken long because there has been a lot of development within the department. But the family will get the house,” he said.
-Hendrick Mphande
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