By Adia Jildo
Tension is still high between the Central Equatoria State Ministry of Housing, Land and Utilities and Gurei residents over demarcation of Gurei land as third class instead of first class.
The Minister of Housing, Land and Utilities Flora Gabriel told the media that there had been a group of people who wanted the land to be demarcated as first class and were forcing their way out of changing the system as directed by the state government and from the local authorities.
“There is other group who wants the place to be demarcated as first class. They resisted but we went as the ministry of housing because I have the mandate to do the showing” Flora said.
She stated that the group tried to change plans of the demarcation and claimed local authorities of taking money as residential fees.
“Our money is being collected by revenue authority of the state ministry, I have been getting information from people who come to the ministry to complain about the issue” Flora cited.
She called authorities not to pay residential fees for demarcated lands as it was not the policy of the ministry of housing.
“Whoever is doing something in the housing, I will have to question it. If anybody comes with an issue, we have to resolve it, solve it in a right way; we want to correct the people of South Sudan not to build on any place which is not authorized to you. You are taking peoples’ place and who gave you that area” she questioned.
She however did not mention names of authorities involved in the issue but promised to bring issues forth and handle it in a right way.