Department of Human Settlements Will Not Be Held Ransom by Joe Slovo Community

Tomorrow, 3 September 2016, the Western Cape Human Settlements Head of Department Mr Thando Mguli, will meet with the residents of informal settlements in Joe Slovo, Langa, Cape Town. The meeting was called in an effort to resolve the ongoing dispute to relocate community members. Relocation must happen in order to ensure that construction of a further 1 590 houses in the Joe Slovo Phase 3 Project can continue. The houses will benefit families earning less than R3 500 pm. The Department’s ability to deliver services is therefore severely hampered by the refusal of a few community members to relocate.

This engagement with the community follows multiple attempts between the Department, the building contractor and the Housing Development Agency (HDA) to meet with the people who are delaying the housing development with their refusal to move to a Temporary Relocation Area (TRA) in Delft.

Joe Slovo Phase 3 is planned to deliver 2 886 houses, of which 1 296 have been completed, with a further 1 590 to be completed. The project, which was scheduled to be completed in August 2013, has been delayed numerous times due to the refusal of some residents to relocate.

The Department of Human Settlements is committed to providing quality housing opportunities to qualifying beneficiaries in the Western Cape. While the rights of every household currently residing on land needs to be recognised, these must be balanced with the rights of those who are most in need of housing.

The refusal of a few households to relocate is effectively preventing the construction of thousands of houses in the Joe Slovo Phase 3 Housing Project.

All media are invited to attend:

Date:              3 September 2016
Time:              10:00 am
Venue:           Langa Sport Complex