Several residents from Tshikota are highly irritated with the fact that the Makhado Municipality keeps on sending them bills and letters of demand for houses they do not occupy.

The issue revolves around a hostel project in Tshikota that started more than a decade ago. At around 2000 the hostel dwellers in Tshikota had to move out of the buildings and 47 family houses were constructed. During the construction process, the building inspectors apparently found that the houses had structural problems and residents could not occupy the buildings.

Much to their surprise, some residents started receiving bills for the houses that they could not occupy. One of the residents, Mr Albert Mulaudzi, says that he continues to receive statements from the municipality, demanding payment. "We have never used the houses," he said.

Mulaudzi's municipal account, which is in Mirror's possession, shows that he currently owes the municipality more than R7 000 for services rendered. The statement shows that Mulaudzi owes the money for rent, electricity and water. He denies that he has ever occupied the house.

Some of the other residents say that, seeing that the houses are not fit for occupation, they must be given their land back, so that they can build their own houses.

During a visit to the area, it was clear that the empty houses are being vandalized. Windows had been broken at most of the houses and there is long grass all over the place that is not being attended to. People are now stealing the corrugated iron sheets from the houses.

Mr Samuel Galane, one of the beneficiaries of the family houses, expressed the opinion that "this is the type of corruption the government is supposed to be fighting."

The spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, said that no one was being billed for services that were not being rendered. "If there are people who receive statements for services not being rendered to them, they must consult our offices, so that we can help resolve the problem," said Bobodi. He could not clarify whether construction of the houses would still continue or not.