Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
STATEMENT
The two ministries of Local Government and Housing and Development Planning and Works have decided to issue a joint statement on the increasing problem of land invasion. This problem hampers the speedy delivery of housing and other RDP programmes.
The high rate at which unplanned settlement, land invasions and rapid urbanization occurs in Gauteng impacts negatively on the delivery of essential services. It poses a threat on the existing infrastructure. This means that proper planning cannot don and therefore it puts a heavy burden on the already overloaded system. "The status quo cannot be allowed to exist." the two MECs said.
The MEC for Development, Planning and Works Mr. Sicelo Shiceka says that "My ministry is doing all it can under these difficult circumstances to try and make land available in order to address the problem of landlessness." While plans are at an advances stage to release land to the homeless, Local Government and Housing Minister Mr. Dan Mofokeng has warned "Informal Developers" (these are people that sell land that does not belong to them to unsuspecting homeless people) that the government is going to clam hard on them." He says they should not expect any leniency because they are making themselves guilty of wrong doing.
Plans are underway to engage the central government in discussions that will address the high influx of people from neighbouring countries, as well as adjacent provinces who come and want to live in the Province thereby increasing the landlessness and homelessness problem.
Issued by the Media Liaison Unit. Communications Department
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