housing

At least 10 percent of South Africa’s 44 million people live in urban informal settlements. This equates to more than 1.2 million households and an informal settlement population of over 4.4 million. Approximately 23 percent of the households in South Africa’s nine largest cities are estimated to be without adequate shelter. In reality, the actual numbers are probably significantly higher than these figures suggest.

The Minister’s speech comes with no surprises as we are all aware of the global economic crisis that did not spare South Africa, resulting in a recession. However, the Minister can only do what can be done, especially when we look at the growing budget deficit which is envisaged to continue growing in the next 3 years, hitting the R1.3 trillion mark before it slows down. It is a well balanced budget that needs to be commended.

In April 2006, the then KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Housing and Local Government Mike Mabuyakhulu tabled The Slums Act. The provincial legislation reportedly aimed to eradicate shack settlements in KZN by 2010.

In Section 16, the MEC is empowered to compel land owners to evict unlawful occupiers. The approach was to be adopted by other provinces.

It is good news that Tokyo Sexwale and Helen Zille have decided to bury the hatchet on the petty squabbling between the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) (largely, let it be said, initiated by the ANC) over the N2 Gateway project and land allocation in the province.

The spat has hampered housing delivery in the province. We are now told “the three spheres of government are to sit around one table to decide on the future of the project.” (‘Sexwale, Zille and city to decide on N2 Gateway’, August 10).

Human Settlements Minister, Tokyo Sexwale, has visited the Diepsloot informal settlement, where he stood in a pool of sewage when addressing residents.

Sexwale noted that, “What is at issue here is that people are living in inhuman conditions.” He described his visit to the informal settlement as “a genuine attempt to hear the problems of the people”.

We are standing on human waste. We are in Diepsloot. This is where we start our journey. We are starting a meaningful conversation with the people,” explained Sexwale.

Ashraf Cassiem and 139 families who have set up home under the stars along Symphony Way in wind-swept Delft on the Cape Flats have celebrated a small victory last week after being given a reprieve in their fight against eviction.

Cassiem, who is chairperson of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, points out that, “We'll gladly move to houses that are safe, clean and adequate to our families' needs."

The Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement, a NGO working towards improving the living conditions of shack dwellers, is challenging the KwaZulu-Natal’s Slums Act in the Constitutional Court.

Abahlali baseMjondolo spokesperson, Mnikelo Ndabankulu, points out that, “The Act was imposed by the KwaZulu-Natal department of housing. This act was imposed against the will of the poor who the government is meant to serve. It is a clear attack on the poor."

Gauteng Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane, says her department will eradicate all informal settlements in the province by 2014.

"So far, 12 informal settlements have been eradicated. A further 24 informal settlements are in the process of being eradicated... This will bring the provincial total of eradicated informal settlements to 36 in 2009", says Mokonyane.

"We are, therefore, confident that our plan to eradicate informal settlements by 2014 is moving forward and more will be done to speed up delivery in remaining areas."