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I will today write to the Chairperson of the Human Settlements Committee to request that the Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, come before the committee to explain why he has been delaying the release of state land for housing in the Western Cape.

Over 570 000 square meters of land has been identified by the Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements to develop housing. Up to 160 000 RDP houses can be accommodated on this land. Planning and construction can, however, not commence until the land has been released by Minister Nxesi.

Some of this land has also been earmarked for the Department of Defence for military use, but the Department of Defence has not decided whether it is in its strategic interest to use the land or sign it back over to the Department of Public Works. This is causing a further delay in signing the land over to the Western Cape.

The Department of Public Works plays a crucial role in the development of sustainable human settlements. While land can be identified by the relevant provincial departments, the release and acquisition of the land for development must be approved by the National Department Public Works.

Minister Nxesi is currently standing in the way of 160 000 families who have already been waiting too long to own and live in a house that they can proudly call their own.

The Minister must come before the portfolio committee as a matter of urgency and tell Parliament when he plans to release this land. The Minister cannot be allowed to be a stumbling block for the delivery of quality housing opportunities.