Gauteng province accounts for less than 2% of South Africa’s land mass, is home to more than 12 million people and yet still continues to attract thousands of people, leaving the province with a huge challenge of ensuring that there is shelter for these new citizens.
Therefore as the backlog for services in the old townships is being drastically reduced, the growing population of new arrivals have created a “new demand” for basic service such as housing, water and electricity. This is a trend that has been repeating itself since the new dispensation and the scrapping of legislations prohibiting the movement of citizen.
“Responding and dealing with this challenge of radically transforming our society will need proper planning, coordination and cooperation amongst all spheres of government, hence the hosting of the Gauteng Human Settlements Lekgotla which will be held this weekend,” MEC Jacob Mamabolo announced today.
“This province finds itself in a unique situation. Our population grows faster due to rapid urbanisation and in-migration as a result of people coming here to look for opportunities. Whilst the demand is usually higher than the supply, we have to find ways of ensuring that we respond positively to this growing need of houses”, Mamabolo said.
“Over the next two days we will be hosting a dialogue with all municipalities in Gauteng to consolidate our plans into one massive human settlements programme for the entire Gauteng City Region”, MEC Mamabolo declared. The gathering is also expected to make pronouncements on the implementation of new mega city expected to radically transform the human settlements landscape in Gauteng.
Taking place in the Vaal on 7/8 November 2014, and to be opened by keynote address by Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Friday, the Human Settlements Lekgotla will meet under the theme “Building New Cities to Transform Spatial Patterns and Revitalise Township Economy”. This gathering of human settlements leaders in Gauteng, including all municipalities, will map the radical steps to transform the spatial configuration and landscape of the province through better and coordinated land use management and spatial development.
Despite creating more than 1 million housing opportunities in the last 20 years, Gauteng still faces challenges of informal settlements, new and ever-increasing demand for houses, land scarcity, dolomite, invasion of land and RDP houses and many others. The housing backlog in Gauteng stands at just under 700 000 and this has necessitated a major review of the housing provision in the province in an attempt to meet the need.
“One of the problems compounding our challenges is slum lords and shack farmers who continue to exacerbate the informal housing space by renting backyard shacks in return of financial gains, making thousands of rands from desperate people looking for accommodation. Such practices are turning our cities into slums and the gathering should find solutions”.
“Our housing programmes must assist to eliminate such problems and the Lekgotla will find ways of and a holistic approach to housing challenges of Gauteng. The approach must include eradication/formalisation of informal settlements, mixed housing developments, rental housing, community residential units (formerly hostels), gap market and so on”, MEC Mamabolo said.
Premier David Makhura will address the Lekgotla tomorrow (Friday 7 November) at 14h00 at the Bon Hotel Riviera on Vaal in Vereeniging.
For more information contact:
Victor Moreriane
Cell: 079 529 5836
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
