Department denies media reports

By Ofentse Mokae
09 July 2009

Department of Public works denied media reports that former MPs living in parliamentary houses around Cape Town are refusing to move out to make way for new MPs to occupy.

Acting director-general Solly Malebye refuted that the former MPs were not cooperating and that they were served with eviction orders, as it was reported earlier in the week.

He was reported in a local paper saying “six MPs have asked for an extension in the houses, and two who changed political parties, to move to those allocated to their new parties”.

The transition between outgoing MPs and the incoming ones and part of their logistical needs is a task of the department and the minister has a prerogative decision to make in matters relating to outgoing MPs vacating the premises at the parliamentary villages.

Malebye further said there is a smooth transition between MPs vacating the homes and those occupying them and that everyone was cooperating in the process.