Yesterday, Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Tertuis Simmers, accompanied by the City of Cape Town’s (CoCT) MAYCO member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi, engaged the Dunoon Project Steering Committee (PSC), where an update was provided on the planned re-blocking as part of the Rapid Informal Settlements Support and Upgrade Programme (RISSUP) in the area, to assist in combatting COVID-19.
Part of the engagement were PSC members, which consists of the local Ward Councillor and community leadership, while officials from the Housing Development Agency (HAD), national, provincial and CoCT Human Settlements sector, along with the South African Police Services (SAPS) were also in attendance.
The Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell on 25 June 2020 approved the City of Cape Town’s application to deviate from the provision of section 43 (5) (d) of the land use planning act in terms of section 60(1) of the Western Cape Land Use Planning Act 3 of 2014 in response to the Department’s rezoning and consolidation application of Erf 35148 and Erven 35163 to 35170, Milnerton and the rezoning and subdivision application of Erf 38368, Milnerton. This approval will allow for a shortened period for comments from 30 days to 10 days.
Minister Simmers said: “It was pleasing to share the news that the public participation process, which will commence this week has been shortened from 30 to 10 days. Once this process has been concluded, we can move full steam ahead with the development of the Transitional Residential Units (TRA’s).
I’d like to commend the community leadership for their robust engagement. I trust there is now a clear understanding of our commitment to assist the most vulnerable, particularly the elderly and disabled in the area. I call on the community leadership to take the factual information to the rest of the community, so that no opportunity is created for anyone to mislead the broader community.
Part of the engagement was to sign a pledge to demonstrate the Western Cape Government’s commitment to this development. PSC members requested that both the pledge and presentation be translated into isiXhosa, as it is the prominent language in the area. I instructed my office to translate the presentation and deliver it to the leadership by the end of this week, so that it can be distributed to the rest of the community.
I have also committed to returning to the area within the next few weeks, with a revised version of the pledge, in order for each community leader to clearly understand what they will be signing.
It is critical for all of us to work together if we’re going to win this fight against COVID-19.
I also thank those who viewed proceedings via my Facebook page and for their feedback on the live stream. The optimal utilisation of technology is part of my transparent engagement so that the immediate and wider community throughout the Western Cape is aware of how my department works. I’d like to encourage all to follow my page https://www.facebook.com/HumanMinWC for the latest updates and information.
As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.”
Marcellino Martin
Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers
Tel: 021 483 3397
Mobile: 082 721 3362
Email: Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za
or
Nathan Adriaanse
Director Communication & Stakeholder Relations
Tell: 021 483 2868
Mobile: 083 2631720
Email: Nathan.Adriaanse@westerncape.gov.za