Shack dwellers to be moved to a formal settlement
"Shacks threatened the resident's dignity"
The premier Mr David Mabuza has announced that all residents residing in shacks around Delmas would be moved to a new formal settlement by March 2014.
Speaking at an imbizo recently in the Victor Khanye Municipality, Mabuza said that all citizens who currently did not have RDP houses, would first be registered and subsequently moved to serviced location.
During the imbizo, the community wanted to know if they would still be moved to a formal settlement by December this year as promised by the municipality. In response the premier requested an extension from the residents to have them moved by March 2014.
Mabuza asked both human settlements MEC Mr Andries Gamede and Cogta MEC Ms Simon Skosana to work with the municipality on the establishment of the new location comprising RDP houses, water, electricity and infrastructure.
He also appreciated the work done by government as many residents had already received RDP houses, however, he was still concerned about those living in the informal settlements.
He explained that the shacks threatened the resident’s dignity and added that the process of registration should commence as soon as possible.
“I am putting my head on the block, come rain, come sunshine, by March next year you will move to your new formal settlement which will have all the necessary infrastructure.
“Today we are making a Vezimfundo High School Accord. This government will provide you with houses, but you will also not build new shacks. The ruling party made a contract with you that it will change your lives for the better; indeed the houses will be built on serviced land,” said Mabuza. Accompanied by the ministers of Cogta and water affairs, he also handed over more than 800 title deeds to RDP houses in Delmas. Earlier in the day, they handed over 25 luxurious and upmarket houses sponsored by a local mining company, Exarro.
The premier has since donated beds while the municipality has provided curtains for 25 houses from the premier’s Kancane Kancane Housing Legacy project.
Early this year, water affairs minister Edna Molewa opened a multimillion rand bulk water system for the community of Delmas. The RDP houses have flush toilets which prevent waterborne diseases.
