MEC Launches Etwatwa Housing Development

Gauteng Department’s efforts to eradicate all informal settlements in the province by 2014 have received a boost. Today, Gauteng MEC for Housing Ms Nomvula mokonyane together with the Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Duma Nkosi launched Etwatwa Extension 34 and 37 housing projects.

The launch of these projects would result in the number of informal settlements in Ekurhuleni being drastically reduced. Ekurhuleni municipality has the highest number of informal settlements in the province. Some of these informal settlements need to be upgraded or relocated to other areas with habitable land. The housing projects will deliver a total of about 8 488 formal structures and other social amenities.

Addressing Etwatwa community during the launch, MEC Mokonyane said when the government made a commitment some few years ago to formalize all informal settlements in Gauteng by 2009 and eradicate them by 2014, skeptics and the opposition interpreted this as a political rhetoric.

She warned the residents that there are people who are trying to undermine the good work government is doing to change the lives of the poor. “You should stop listening to those people who are trying to frustrate our effort because we are the only government that provide houses for free and we will continue to do that,” said Mokonyane

The houses in the areas like Barcelona will be built where people live instead of relocating them. However MEC appealed to all the residents who are staying in the road reserve to allow the relocation process to take place as that will benefit everyone. “Your cooperation will allow us to finish the project within the specified time. Resistance will only make our task of providing houses even more difficult.”

Mokonyane acknowledged that while government has made great strides in providing houses to the people, a lot still needs to be done. “I urge those who have not yet benefited to be patient with us. If we have given other people houses it means that you will benefit too.”

She also reminded residents that once a house has been built they are expected to demolish their shacks.