Blocking of the N2 an Attempt to Block Delivery | Western Cape Government

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Blocking of the N2 an Attempt to Block Delivery

13 September 2007
MEDIA STATEMENT

September 10, 2007

BLOCKING OF THE N2 AN ATTEMPT TO BLOCK DELIVERY

The Government would like to condemn with strongest terms the violent protest by the people who blocked and caused damage to property on the N2 near Langa this morning. We want to urge the arm of law to take its cause towards all those involved in this unfortunate hooliganism.

The Provincial and the National Government have thus far never forcefully remove anybody from Joe Slovo to the TRA's in Delft. We have been assisting all those people who want to volunteer their removal to the TRA's in Delft. We are currently engaging the Community of Joe Slovo and pleading for their cooperation in order that the Government can be able to provide proper development in that area.

The Government through its implementation agent Thubelisha, have been holding regular meetings with all the people involved in Joe Slovo. The MEC for Local Government and Housing and the National Minister of Housing have spent maximum efforts in communicating the Government plans for the community of Joe Slovo.

The Joe Slovo informal settlement is a disaster prone area. In winter that community gets affected with floods because of the lack of proper drainage system and other relevant services. In summer the informal settlement is in unmanageable blaze of fires. In order for the Government to find sustainable solution to the problem, we need to provide proper infrastructure and formal housing.

It is Unfortunate that, for the Government to provide these services, we need to find alternative location for the people until the completion of the processes. Even after the completion of these services, the Joe Slovo land cannot accommodate all the people currently residing in the informal dwelling. It will therefore require some people to relocate permanently to an alternative location and in this case the Delft TRA's is currently our viable alternative.

It is therefore clear to us that, there are some elements of people who want to hijack the development in that area and use it for their wrong purposes. As this Government we are going to continue engaging the community of Joe Slovo on this matter, but we will also be less tolerant to any acts of thuggery in disguise of service delivery. It is our constitutional obligation to find a suitable alternative area for the residents in order to fast track service delivery in their communities.

Vusi Tshose
Media Liaison Officer/ Spokesperson
MEC : QR Dyantyi -Local Government and Housing

Tel: 021 483 4466
Fax: 021 483 4953
Cell: 083 581 5265

email: vtshose@pgwc.gov.za

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