“It is time to do things differently, we must deliver quicker, faster and smarter,” President Jacob Zuma told residents of Madelakufa, Thembisa in Ekurhuleni.
Zuma was visiting the area as part of his service delivery monitoring and evaluation visits. The president visited residents of Madelakufa in November last year where they complained about incompetent councillors, unhealthy living conditions, housing shortages, lack of clean drinking water, electricity as well as sanitation.
Today, Zuma’s visit to the informal settlement saw residents more hopeful than a few short months ago. Zuma, was accompanied a team of ministers and members of the Gauteng executive council.
He said that the visit was a clear indication that the issues the community had raised previously had been taken seriously and he has brought both his team to assess the situation and report back to the community.
The president stressed the importance of knowing where the people live, understanding their concerns and responding to their needs faster. He also undertook to change the way government works, and to ensure that service delivery occurs faster and in a more caring manner.
Since Zuma’s last visit residents in the informal settlements have been furnished with running water and ablution facilities and plans are also under way to build houses in the area.
Local Government and Housing MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro gave residents a report back on housing plans for the area. To date, 27 000 people live in the settlement and moves are afoot to ensure that decent housing is provided to these residents.
“We have identified and bought Strydomland to build housing for the community of Madelakufa and we are currently working with the local municipality to ensure that the area has infrastructure for water and sanitation before we build houses,” he said.
We will build 470 houses on this land and an additional 534 houses will be built on the land the informal settlements currently stand on.
Zuma said informal settlements need to be eradicated.
“Informal settlements are where many problems are. If we can get our people into formal housing then there’ll be a big percentage drop in crime,” he said
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
19 March 2010
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za/)
