Onalenna Modikwa
9 November 2009
Selebi-Phikwe — Some beneficiaries of Habitat for Humanity loans in Tswapong South are without accommodation after the housing organisation locked their houses for defaulting in their payments.
This comes at a time when beneficiaries from the villages of Chadibe, Machaneng, Matlhako and Sefhare await a response from Habitat International for Humanity for Africa and the Middle East in Pretoria, South Africa after their appeal for the Botswana office to write off the loans because they cannot afford to pay.
The balance owed to Habitat in these communities stands at P1.8 million.One of the beneficiaries Nthono Tshupo, who was locked out of his house last week, says he was shocked when Habitat officials locked him out.
"I explained to them that I was still looking for money to clear the arrears, but they ordered me to remove my property from the house and proceeded to lock me out."
Tshupo admits that he owes P1, 700 and says the initial loan agreement was that if he should have a problem paying back, he should explain to the Habitat office. "I did not do that, but I once explained to their officer here in Chadibe that I was struggling."
Tshupo, who has since moved to a congested house belonging to his children, says he will service the loan from his monthly pension.
The Director of Habitat Botswana, Kabelo Seadimo, says they are taking action against defaulters who have no valid reason, especially those who have a regular income, and that it is only a small number that is affected as the majority of home owners are paying well. The defaulters range from three to seven months in arrears. Seadimo says prior to building a house for someone, they educate him/her on different issues, including possible actions in the event of defaulting.
"Furthermore, prior to taking any action, defaulters are issued with letters of demand," he says.
About the defaulters' appeal to the international institution to write off their loans, Seadimo says no institution can write off loans of people who have the capacity to pay.
"Unfortunately, I am not sure what response they got as they sent their letter straight to the international office," he says. The Home Owners Appeals Special Advisor in Sefhare, Kesitegile Gobotswang, says Habitat locked up defaulters' houses without warning and that the organisation had recently threatened to demolish defaulters' houses.
Gobotswang says the "act of humiliation" appears to be politically motivated despite Habitat professing to be founded on Christian values. If the petition to Habitat International in Pretoria is unsuccessful, they intend to appeal to the organisation's New York office, he says.
"This brutal act of aggression must be condemned in the strongest terms," he emphasises.
Habitat has built 154 houses in Chadibe, 66 in Matlhako, 74 in Machaneng and 76 in Sefhare.
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