The handing over of the first five houses in the controversial N2 Gateway project to residents on Tuesday was eclipsed by a high-level delegation of politicians…
Results of the audit of Cyberia Technologies, appointed to manage the first phase of the project, are expected soon.
“The obstacles of this project were worsened by the unfortunate political situation, which were made even worse by the media,” said national Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
Mfeketo said she felt “vindicated” by yesterday’s handover.
Mfeketo said the people who had “whinged and complained” had tried to “pour water” on the project.
ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha conceded that the community should have been more involved.
He said later in a statement: “The homeless are sick and tired of excuses; as well as those irresponsible opportunists who want to exploit their dire conditions for political point-scoring.”
Meanwhile an irate crowd gathered outside the fence, waving their ID books and red cards in the hope of being given a house. They said they were responding to radio advertisements that said they could collect keys to N2 Gateway houses.
As a steady stream of luxury cars passed the crowd bound for the formal celebrations, the cries of “Sisulu is lying” and “Down with the ANC” grew louder.
Many of the hopeful residents had taken a day off work to receive their houses.
Yolande Mjuza said she was “still sleeping under the table” in a shack while she waited for a house. Rosina Gobodwana said she has been living in her mother’s backyard since 1958.
“They are making us wait outside like dogs”, while another disappointed resident said: “They are giving the houses to their wives and sisters”.
Margaret Mtombeni, who has been on the housing list since 1997, said she had been told to collect her key on Tuesday, but was waiting for the authorities to tell her if she would get a house.
Organisers hastily redirected guests away from the entrance in an attempt to shift the focus to the organised programme.
She said the housing backlog was estimated to be 263 000. “If we assume that this will grow by 16 000 a year, in 10 years we will be much worse off,” she said in defence of the government’s “radical” housing programme. - Cape Times
Results of the audit of Cyberia Technologies, appointed to manage the first phase of the project, are expected soon.
“The obstacles of this project were worsened by the unfortunate political situation, which were made even worse by the media,” said national Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
Mfeketo said she felt “vindicated” by yesterday’s handover.
Mfeketo said the people who had “whinged and complained” had tried to “pour water” on the project.
ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha conceded that the community should have been more involved.
He said later in a statement: “The homeless are sick and tired of excuses; as well as those irresponsible opportunists who want to exploit their dire conditions for political point-scoring.”
Meanwhile an irate crowd gathered outside the fence, waving their ID books and red cards in the hope of being given a house. They said they were responding to radio advertisements that said they could collect keys to N2 Gateway houses.
As a steady stream of luxury cars passed the crowd bound for the formal celebrations, the cries of “Sisulu is lying” and “Down with the ANC” grew louder.
Many of the hopeful residents had taken a day off work to receive their houses.
Yolande Mjuza said she was “still sleeping under the table” in a shack while she waited for a house. Rosina Gobodwana said she has been living in her mother’s backyard since 1958.
“They are making us wait outside like dogs”, while another disappointed resident said: “They are giving the houses to their wives and sisters”.
Margaret Mtombeni, who has been on the housing list since 1997, said she had been told to collect her key on Tuesday, but was waiting for the authorities to tell her if she would get a house.
Organisers hastily redirected guests away from the entrance in an attempt to shift the focus to the organised programme.
Sisulu said the N2 Gateway pilot had been rolled out in Cape Town because it was the “shack capital” of the country.
She said the housing backlog was estimated to be 263 000. “If we assume that this will grow by 16 000 a year, in 10 years we will be much worse off,” she said in defence of the government’s “radical” housing programme. - Cape Times
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