Multi-Party Coalition committed to building better and more sustainable human settlements in Ekurhuleni

by Cllr. Mabekenyane Thamahane– DA Party Whip for Human Settlements in Ekurhuleni

Date: 05 April 2022

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Ekurhuleni welcomes Executive Mayor, Ald. Tania Campbell’s maiden State of the City Address (SOCA) which was delivered on the 30th of March 2022. The address provided an honest and hopeful assessment of the City and was particularly positive regarding issues related to human settlements.

The DA would like to commend the efforts of the Multi-Party Coalition regarding the distribution of title deeds. Since taking over administration from the previous ANC-coalition, the Coalition has distributed over 2000 title deeds and has committed to increasing that number to 3000 for the next financial year. A significant diversion from how the previous administration used title deeds as a political tool during election campaign periods.

The DA welcomes the provision of service stands from the Metro to ensure more humane settlements for the City’s landless residents who reside in informal settlements. In addition, the Party welcomes the completion of 877 units across social housing complexes in the next financial year, the refurbishing of social housing stock and the commitment to continue with the delivery of the Breaking New Ground housing project by the Gauteng Provincial Government — designed to provide sustainable housing solutions to a number of residents based on a subsidy system.

Residents can also look forwards to a commitment by the City to maintain fair, non-market related rates for social housing. This has been an issue that the DA has been driving for years and will certainly bring relief to those residents living in Council-owned rental stock.

The DA applauds these realistic and achievable objectives as outlined in the Mayor’s SOCA, that will genuinely benefit the people of Ekurhuleni and are not lofty promises espoused by the previous administration, such as the unrealistic projection to provide 100 000 and 59 000 services stands.

The Party looks forward to a future where residents have access to affordable, humane and sustainable housing that is free of corruption fraud and maladministration.

Cllr. Mabekenyane Thamahane

DA Party Whip for Human Settlements in Ekurhuleni