Committee advises consideration when dealing with evictions on government property
The Select Committee on Economic and Business Development has advised the Gauteng province to be considerate when evicting people illegally occupying buildings belonging to the state.
The Committee is on a two-day visit in Gauteng to share information verification and management of a government assets register in the province. Members were told that illegal occupants have hijacked too many government buildings in the province.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Eddie Makue, said the role of the state should never be about generating income from leasing buildings as its mandate was political. “At all times, we should be of service to our people and make sure that we empower them through ownership of assets. Human settlement in Gauteng province will remain a challenge because of migration patterns. This is an economic hub not only for South Africans, but the entire continent,” Mr Makue said.
“Criminal acts being conducted from these buildings should be looked at creatively as we cannot just demolish [buildings]. It is also advisable that government does not just cut services from people as that might result in a lot of unnecessary demonstrations and protest,” he said.
Mr Makue called on the province to utilise the services and work that had already been done by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, as well as consider involving people through public-private partnerships whenever the buildings were refurbished or rebuilt.
“Municipalities need to do a lot of work on ownership, management and maintenance of buildings belonging to the state,” he said. He also called on the province to be on the lookout for corrupt construction companies when tendering for rebuilding and refurbishing.
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Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
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Email: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
