Issued by: Ministry of Housing
5 May 2002
Programme Director MEC Makhaye Mayer Mlaba Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen
Ngiya nibingelela nonke!
For too long our people have suffered the worst kind of racial discrimination in housing, living in overcrowded single sex hostels and denied the right to live with their families. To add more salt to injury, these hostels had minimum or no community facilities and generally isolated from the surrounding communities. This was in stark contrast to the housing conditions of their white counterparts who enjoyed family housing, generous subsidies and the full range of community facilities.
The government has set clear goals aimed at poverty eradication and better life for all citizens and we remain committed to this. It is our conviction that our people should be assisted in their choice of housing options, with particular focus on family ties and community integration. In addition, we also want people to live in areas allowing convenient access to economic opportunities, in viable, socially and economically integrated communities.
This is the reason why the South African government has put development of human settlements on top of the agenda. Our delivery of 1,2 million houses and the upgrading of no less than 45 hostels bear testimony to our commitment to change the living conditions of our people to the better. At the same time, we are making inroads towards the implementation of best practices as recognised by the international community. The government has already spent R775 million to upgrade our hostels, a majority of which were in a delapidated state, without security, malfunctioning electricity and faulty plumbing and drainage systems. At some of the hostels, it has been found that more than 80% of the window glasses were broken and sewerage pipes had been licking for years without being fixed, which posed serious health hazards.
The launch of the Kranskloof Hostel redevelopment project should therefore be viewed as part of our effort to change this unfortunate state of accommodation of our people and I am proud to mention that there are 1284 units that are going to benefit the equal number of families in this hostel alone. As enshrined in our policy, the development will also benefit both families and individuals, thus giving more housing options to the poor.
Our economic empowerment drive will see a number of emerging developers playing a meaningful role in the development that is going to take place here. Above all, we will be able to integrate this premises with the surrounding communities and promote a situation where you will be able to share the community facilities with the community of Kwa-Dabeka. In short, all I'm trying to say is that from today, there is no reason to continue viewing the Kranskloof Hostel and Kwa-Dabeka as separate communities.
As the people of the World begin to gain some hope and confidence in Africa as a result of efforts being made by various governments in putting in place best practices of development and governance, we want to intensify our programme of action in the fight against poverty.
I am therefore pleased that we are here not only to advance and celebrate the achievements we've made in housing, but also to launch the Habitat Month with the aim of getting everyone ready for the World Summit on sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg from the end of August to beginning of September this year. It is the contribution of all of us - in government and the private sector (including civil society) - that will optimise the benefits of hosting this Summit and our gathering here today is a call for action to all our people to start preparing for this Summit.
Various departments will also embark on a number of activities aimed at preparing our nation on the Summit as well as show-casing our various programmes towards sustainable development in South Africa. Although sustainable development is regarded as a relatively new concept in South Africa, our people have begun to understand this concept as part and parcel of our development programmes. The government at all spheres, has always strived for the betterment of the lives of our people in a sustainable manner.
Yesterday, The Minister of Provincial and Local government, Mr Sidney Mufamadi, launched the Rural and Urban Development Month, of which our Housing Month is part. Our focus is therefore on the sustainable development in both rural and urban areas.
There will be a number of activities to mark the Habitat Month in all provinces and all of us should ensure that we participate in these events. Apart from showing your support in our activities, I want to call upon all of you to take up your overalls and boots and embark on any kind of ilima or vuk'uzenzele activity that will benefit yourselves and your communities. Participate in the greening and cleaning up of your environment; put together your skills and the little resources that you have and paint, renovate or do repairs at your local community facilities; and teach others whatever skill that you have.
Lastly, ladies and gentlemen, I want to reiterate that our housing policy and strategy will continue to advocate for the creation of sustainable human settlements and among the key programmes that we have intensified, especially in this province is the slum clearance. You will recall that last year MEC Makhaye and Mayor Mlaba launched the biggest slum clearance project here and I am assured that we will soon begin to see the benefits thereof. The hostels redevelopment programme is therefore but one of the priority projects of Kwa-Zulu-Natal Provincial government.
I thank you.
Contact: Mandla Mathebula Cell: 0833041536