Cosatu’s Western Cape secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, came out with guns blazing on Wednesday against the ANC and the Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu, accusing her of sabotaging a major land and housing deal struck between landowners and squatters in Hout Bay. Ehrenreich also repeated his controversial call for squatters to invade land to force the government to act.
After years of racial acrimony over housing shortages in the racially divided coastal town, Ehrenreich asked the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) to mediate in discussions between the haves and have-nots in order to find a solution. The IJR launched a peace and mediation strategy at the beginning of March…
Last week, a draft document of principles on the greater Hout Bay housing crisis was finalised in which all parties agreed that removals would take place only after consultation and if acceptable housing was provided elsewhere.
However, Sisulu has now been accused of failing to become involved in the key process of identifying land for potential development. Ehrenreich said the housing department had failed to appear at any meetings.
Sisulu’s spokesperson, Thery Ndopu, denied the allegations, saying the minister had received no invitation to “attend events in Hout Bay”.
Said Ehrenreich this week: “This is an amazing process where the homeless and wealthy, landless blacks and coloureds, white ratepayers and the city council came together and agreed on a set of principles. The only stumbling block is the national government and, specifically, the national housing minister.
“I believe government is trying to sabotage this process. The community needs an integrated response from government and we’ve invited Sisulu to meetings. She even accepted an invitation to attend a Human Rights Day rally in Hout Bay, but she never pitched.”… M&G
After years of racial acrimony over housing shortages in the racially divided coastal town, Ehrenreich asked the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) to mediate in discussions between the haves and have-nots in order to find a solution. The IJR launched a peace and mediation strategy at the beginning of March…
Last week, a draft document of principles on the greater Hout Bay housing crisis was finalised in which all parties agreed that removals would take place only after consultation and if acceptable housing was provided elsewhere.
However, Sisulu has now been accused of failing to become involved in the key process of identifying land for potential development. Ehrenreich said the housing department had failed to appear at any meetings.
Sisulu’s spokesperson, Thery Ndopu, denied the allegations, saying the minister had received no invitation to “attend events in Hout Bay”.
Said Ehrenreich this week: “This is an amazing process where the homeless and wealthy, landless blacks and coloureds, white ratepayers and the city council came together and agreed on a set of principles. The only stumbling block is the national government and, specifically, the national housing minister.
“I believe government is trying to sabotage this process. The community needs an integrated response from government and we’ve invited Sisulu to meetings. She even accepted an invitation to attend a Human Rights Day rally in Hout Bay, but she never pitched.”… M&G
1 comment:
Sad to hear about Sisulu , if she is still the housing minister it seems we will never move forward.I live in Houtbay and next to the township.I dont mind living next to the township but the conditions that the people have to live under are inhumane and this affects us too.(our road is used as a toilet and in Winter blackwater runs down the road)
Due to overcrowding and lack of facilities,the township has become a health hazard (ecoli was found as far as the ocean) and environmental problem.The people of Houtbay accept the township and do wish to be an example for the rest of S.A. Wouldnt it great to have a model township with facilities in the middle of an affluent suburb.Is this not the future plan for the rest of the suburbs? If Houtbay doesnt move forward I fear that this will stall all future developments.All eyes are on what happens to Houtbay as an example for the rest.
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