https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / Statements RSS ← Back
Building|Safety|Environmental
Building|Safety|Environmental
building|safety|environmental
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Article Enquiry

DA calls for briefing on plans to deal with land invasions in WC

Close

Embed Video

DA calls for briefing on plans to deal with land invasions in WC

30th June 2022

ARTICLE ENQUIRY      SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

I have invited the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements to brief the Provincial Legislature on the Department’s proactive plans to deal with land invasions across the province, and the support they give to municipalities in this regard.

Increasingly, informal settlements that have been constructed on unsafe land have come under the spotlight due to the risk of flooding and mudslides during the winter months.

Advertisement

The recent example of the informal settlement in the Driftsands Nature Reserve has shown that once communities are settled, it is incredibly difficult and expensive to move them, even if it is for their own safety. This settlement mushroomed during the lockdown and emerged as a result of a land invasion on a wetland and dam wall. Attempts by the Provincial Department of Human Settlements to move the community have been complicated by the ANC national government’s moratorium on evictions during the lockdown which resulted in the settlement growing to approximately 80 000 occupants.

The community is now at risk of serious flooding, destruction of structures, and loss of life. The ecological damage to the reserve is said to be irreversible with the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs requesting the declamation of Driftsands as a Provincial Nature Reserve to be withdrawn.

Advertisement

MPP Matlhodi Maseko says: “Building on land that hasn’t been approved for settlement could hold life-threatening consequences. I look forward to engaging with the Department of Human Settlements on their plans to deal with the problem of land invasions in the province, and working with relevant stakeholders in this regard. As the Driftsands example has shown, proactive measures are needed before land invasions get out of control and lives are put at risk.”

 

Issued by  Matlhodi Maseko, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Human Settlements

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE ARTICLE ENQUIRY

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

 

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now