1 June 2006
Thousands of Eden Park residents in Ekurhuleni packed the sport grounds to
hear good news of development earmarked for their area during a Gauteng
provincial government Imbizo on Wednesday, 31 May 2006.
The good news included an already started new clinic construction in
Greenfields and plans of upgrading Hostel one, two and three into a social
housing project. In addition, residents were also glad to hear that a process
had already started to register shacks in some informal settlements including
Phola Park so that suitable land could then be identified where they would be
relocated.
Audits will also be conducted to check whether houses were occupied by
rightful owners and once verified, the owners would then receive their title
deeds. The Izimbizo is an expression of governmentâs commitment to deepen
democracy by taking government to the people and interacting directly with
communities.
The meeting was attended by the Gauteng MECs for Health, Brian Hlongwa,
Education, Angie Motshekga, Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Khabisi
Mosunkutu and Public Transport, Roads and Works, Ignatius Jacobs. They were
also accompanied by local government councillors.
Councillor Caiphus Sambo said that the local government is committed to
promoting skills development and job creation.
âWe are committed to ensure that there is opportunity for our people to
acquire skills in every development through employing labour intensity methods
that also ensure that contractors need to employ locals,â said Sambo.
His response followed a complaint from members of the community who accused
the main contractors in the housing project of nepotism and employing people
from outside the area.
Although the area is dominated by housing problems, other concerns included
lack of suitable land for habitation in Ekurhuleni as some communities are
staying in water-locked areas or wetlands, sewerage problems although a
commitment was made by government to address the problem by August this year,
unnamed streets, water and electricity cut-offs, lack of ambulance services,
social crimes, teenage pregnancies, lack of land for agricultural purposes and
lack of youth skills development initiatives.
On the question of travelling long distances to schools or clinics, MEC
Motshekga said government had a commitment to ensure that learners further than
five km from school, have transport. âIf it is less than five kilometres, then
we want to encourage people to walk because it is healthy,â said Motshekga.
The youth were also informed that more than 200 buses had been organised to
transport them Ekurhuleni to the FNB Stadium in Soweto to celebrate the 30th
Anniversary of the June 16, 1976 Soweto Uprising.
Enquiries:
Vivienne Rowland
Deputy Director: News and Media Liaison
Tel: (011) 355 6414
Cell: 083 395 1239
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
1 June 2006
