Dear Editor
A parliamentary reply to my questions outlines that the Western Cape Government’s Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has identified 17 undeveloped sites suitable for housing opportunities. The identification took place through the Department’s ongoing review of provincially-managed property. In total, these properties could see another 300ha of land become available to create safe, dignified housing opportunities for residents in the Western Cape. I will be writing to the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements in order to gain further information on their plans for these sites.
MPP Matlhodi Maseko says: “Every sphere of government must play their role in addressing the housing needs in our communities and leverage their resources to create opportunities for our people. The on-going review by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure of properties under its custodianship demonstrates commitment to create housing opportunities close to economic hubs. We see this with identified sites in Green Point, Oranjezicht, and George.
The transparency and efforts by the provincial Department has not been matched at a national level. It’s counterpart department, led by Minister de Lille, has seen her remain silent on a number of issues in the Western Cape while stonewalling the provincial Department of Human Settlements. Despite several requests from the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements regarding the release of four well-located land parcels in the City of Cape Town, the province has received no response from the national Department.
Minister de Lille and her department have also never formally communicated with the Western Cape Government nor the Housing Development Agency regarding the six parcels of land that she claims to have signed-off in the Western Cape for human settlement purposes. Rather than speaking directly with the provincial Department, provincial government has since May, been attempting to get a clear answer from the Minister on when these parcels will be handed over and exactly where they are located.
Minister de Lille’s efforts to guard public information, from the public itself, means that housing beneficiaries are held ransom by the Minister until she comes forward and releases the land to the provincial government and relevant agencies. The consequences are devastating for those in desperate need of a home.
I will also be writing to Premier Alan Winde on the on-going land auditing process taking place across the provincial government, as per his pledge in his Recovery Plan address. While there are no quick fixes to addressing the housing crisis seen in South Africa, we welcome the consistent efforts by the provincial government to bring residents close to economic hubs and fast-track the recovery we need.”
Regards
Matlhodi Maseko, MPP
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Human Settlements
