Is it really a surprise that the people of Happy Valley, not to mention those in other areas, are fed up with poor service delivery? Imagine being oppressed, fighting that oppression and winning the battle, only to be put on hold again by the very people you helped put into power.
The results are places like Happy Valley, where people have been waiting for four years to move to new land. With the lack of problem-solving in the housing ministry, informal settlements have sprung up where inhabitants cannot erect permanent homes as they rightly expect to move.
Now that winter has come, the situation is infinitely worse.
I do not believe the civil service is to blame for not addressing this issue, as their inability to put mind to task is just a question of training.
Make no mistake, South Africa's housing crisis needs to become a priority. When tyres are burning in front of riot police armed with tear gas, it should remind us of a time not too long ago - and the mistakes made.
Most surprising to me is the government's take on the situation. People like Andre du Plessis are presenting solutions that are tailor-made for South Africa's resources. What? A brick made of cannabis?
And no, it's not smokeable but it is fireproof and waterproof.
The International Narcotics Control Board has rated South Africa as one of the world's largest cannabis-producing countries. Cannabrick houses will cost a third of the price government is currently paying. Yet, the government hesitates.
Du Plessis says with the resources of known crops, we can build an additional 10,000 houses per year.
Why not?
Robert Peters
Oranjezicht
No comments:
Post a Comment