M Nkoana-Mashabane: Handing over of Rural Housing Project

12 April 2007

Programme Director
The Mayor Greater Letaba Municipality, Joshua Matlou
Speakers and councillors
Officials from our government
Kgoshi Modika
Magoshi a rena
Representatives from business community
Representative from MPPJ Developers
Beneficiaries from Maphalle village
Members of the community
Friends from the media
Comrades and friends
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

In 1992 in May the African National Congress (ANC) held a National
Conference to discuss the ANC vision for the future. The conference adopted a
policy document to be famously known as "ready to govern".

This document as adopted heralded a new era in shaping policy imperatives of
this government and our readiness to govern a democratic society.

The ANC acknowledged that housing problems created by apartheid are many and
varied. These include the racial fragmentation of our cities and the high
correlation between housing, poverty and race.

Apartheid's complex, racially fragmented and inconsistent system of housing
administration and housing delivery has created gross inequalities between and
within race groups with respect to provision of housing. Apartheid housing
policy has focused on the needs of the middle income households at the expense
of the poor and the disadvantaged.

The principle that underlines ANC policy is that "housing is a right and
should contribute to social equity". Housing is a critical component of
development and therefore community participation in the housing delivery
process is essential and of utmost importance.

Programme Director

Since the ANC assumed a responsibility to govern South Africa, tremendous
progressive policies that are geared towards eradication of the legacy of
apartheid have been passed by Parliament.

Paramount amongst policies and Acts passed by Parliament is the Constitution
of the Republic of South Africa which enshrines the Bill of Rights for all
citizens.

We derive our legislative and constitutional mandate from the Constitution
and we are therefore obliged to serve our people and the citizens of Limpopo in
accordance with the Constitution.

In terms of Section 26 of the Constitution, "Everyone has the right to have
access to adequate housing" and the state through the Department of Local
Government and Housing must take reasonable measures within its available
resources to achieve the progressive realisation of this right.

The Department of Local Government and Housing which I am privileged to
preside over has taken reasonable steps in realisation of the goals of the
Freedom Charter and the ready to govern policy document of the ANC which have
been incorporated in the Constitution of the republic.

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the ANC President Thabo Mbeki on
behalf of the National Executive Committee, proclaimed this year as "the year
for the intensification of the fight against poverty". The significance of this
year message must remind us of the commitment and the contract we entered with
our people to better their lives.

Programme Director

The historical erosion of the sense of community and the damage done during
the period covering four centuries of colonial rule cannot be undone in 12
years of democratic rule.

Building on the foundation of the previous 12 years of democratic rule we
have embarked on a massive program that is geared towards attainment of our
strategic objectives of building a non racial, non sexiest, democratic and
prosperous society.

We will be greatly assisted in our efforts to achieve these objectives by
the recent decisions of the ANC and Cabinet Lekgotla.

The process to integrate our communities who have been previously segregated
by the demon of fascist policies of the white minority regime is tremendously
taking shape. We have secured strategically located available residential land
in most of our towns and cities to advance our peoples program of integrated
sustainable human settlement.

The Department has adopted a turn around strategy that will see us moving
efficiently and effectively in delivery of services to all our people.

We appeal to all our municipalities to take decisive steps of ensuring that
as they plan development in their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), due
regard must be given to decisions taken in our previous summits and meetings
especially the decisions of our sanitation symposium. Issues of water and
sanitation must be given attention and priority in our development planning
forums.

Today, we have gathered here to hand over houses that were built as a result
of the tragedy that occurred in this area. Our caring government led by
President Thabo Mbeki, promptly responded by allocating resources for the
construction of houses to enable our people to have shelter over their
heads.

Over 94 employment opportunities were created and skills in building
construction were transferred. 43 men, 20 women and 31 youth who were appointed
as part of this project. The impact of this project will immensely contribute
towards social upliftment of our people.

We call on all our people to guard against those who are opposed to change
and development by destroying government property and those who feed our people
with lies about our government and especially our Department.

We appeal on all our stakeholders and business to join hands with Department
of Local Government and Housing in its efforts to push back the frontiers of
poverty and underdevelopment.

We will continue with our mandate to serve our people as we have entered
into the people's contract to make their lives better.

Two days ago, we celebrated and commemorated the life and times of comrade
Chris Thembezile Hani who was murdered in 1993 a year before our democratic
breakthrough. We will always remember him for his selfless sacrifices which
brought about this freedom.

We are approaching Freedom Day in a week's time, as we celebrate this day,
we must remember where are we from and those who laid their lives for us to be
free.

Our paramount task and obligation is to transform South Africa into a non
racial, non sexist, democratic and prosperous society.

As we continue with our transformation agenda and delivery of basic services
to the masses of our people, we will indeed be honouring the heroes and
heroines of our struggle for liberation.

We must not fail to honour the relentless sacrifices of our gallant hero,
Ngwako Ramalepe, who stood firm in the midst of oppression and death to
liberate our people.

In conclusion, I appeal to the youth of our country and of this province in
particular to be vigilant of people masquerading as concerned groups and
exploiting their emotions with genuine grievances as their representatives
while advancing their personal agendas.

We were taught how to approach issues in the ANC and therefore we must act
through proper procedures of the movement and government.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Limpopo Provincial
Government
12 April 2007