Kliptown project to benefit all

25 February 2006

Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa says the Kliptown project should benefit all the people from the north and the south of Soweto.

He said the work they are trying to do is for the project to benefit different areas because there are people still living in squalor conditions, with no water and sanitation.

Premier Shilowa was speaking to the residence of Kliptown during the handing over of occupation letters to beneficiaries. To date 446 units have been handed over to the approved beneficiaries. These units are currently being allocated to residents from the Fred Clarke and Chris Hani informal settlements. Approximately 520 RDP units have been constructed and additional 110 units to be completed by March 2006.

Through Social Housing 928 units has been built out of the projected 1400 units. At Walter Sisulu (Freedom) Square 478 rental units has been built. At Golf Course it is envisaged that this area will cater for approximately 932 installment units and to date 450 units has been built.

Shilowa said they decided to move people from Fred Clarke and Chris Hani informal settlements because those areas can be used for development. "We want to move people to formal housing units within the project in order for the land to be accessed for development.

"We don't want our people to live in flooding areas. Area like freedom charter square has got too much water and when it rains it's flooding," said Shilowa.

He went on to say that they will be failing in their duty together with the Mayor and the MEC if they don't move people from flooding areas.

Shilowa said government never makes promises. "We don't promise houses. We made a commitment to build and to provide houses."

Amongst the beneficiaries is Mlambo Martha Matseliso (75) who has been blind for the past 10 years. She lives in the house with three children and has 26 grandchildren. She relocated from Fred Clarke informal settlement.