|
|
|
|
 |
MEC hits Alexandra in her last Imbizo of the year
It is government's responsibility to be accountable to our
citizens, however citizens too must co-operate with government,
Gauteng Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane said during this year's last
Provincial Imbizo held at Eastbank Hall in Alexandra, Johannesburg
yesterday.
The Imbizo also coincided with the launch of two Breaking New Ground (BNG)
housing development projects, K206 and 520 Far Eastbank Flats Project.
And both form part of the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP).
ARP is part of the South African government's Integrated Sustainable
Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programme, which was announced by
President Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament
on the 9 th February 2001.
The purpose of the ARP is to upgrade the living conditions and human
development potential within Alexandra. It is for this reason that the
recent Imbizo largely revolved around the ARP.
Addressing the residents who had packed the hall to the rafters, the
MEC said the solution to housing is not only provision of houses but
also ensuring ownership. Like many other areas, the problem of people
occupying houses illegally is also rife in Alexandra.
This problem is often compounded by the fact that people rent out
their RDP houses and then go back to live in informal settlements. To
curb this MEC said they will be conducting occupational audits to
verify if the people occupying the house are indeed the rightful
owners.
If they are not the rightful owners, they will not be evicted but will
be normalized as the new owners. This she added will normalize
occupancy and not ownership.
Commending the residents of their high activism during the height of
apartheid, Ms Mokonyane added that hence the Alexandra Renewal Project
is a presidential project.
Though she hastily acknowledged the department's shortcomings
regarding this project. The MEC explained that it is for this reason
the department went back to the drawing board. “We then realized that
housing and construction of access roads was a primary goal.”
With the new housing development said the MEC they will ensure that
they curb the mushrooming of shacks. This she said will be achieved
through a new strategy of handing over houses at the site where they
are being built so that they are able to demolish the shack of the
intended beneficiary.
The MEC also announced 6000 properties will be transferred in Alex. As
for the constructions of bridges to complete within record time
residents who made illegal house extensions, should co-operate with
constructors. Also she said they'll also improve the supply of
electricity in Alex.
Even if these projects are not completed say after seven years, “we
will review our plans and finish the project”, said the MEC. Among
other issue that seemed to occupy the resident's minds was the shut
down of their community radio station. However, the MEC promised that
Alex Radio Station will be funded as soon as they renew their license.
|
|
|
|
|
