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| The minister has warned tenants to pay their rent to support growth |
Sisulu also cautioned tenants who have taken ownership of rental housing stock to meet their obligations to their landlords without fail. The units comprise of 85 two- and three-bedroom units, which have been subsidised for first-time home buyers.
The beneficiaries' appreciation was evident in their faces when they were given symbolic keys to their new homes. Ruyterwacht is an area that was characterised by racial violence in the post-l994 era, when people of colour moved into the neighbourhood.
Racial tolerance
More than 10 years down the line, the atmosphere has changed, with positive signs of racial tolerance. The housing project is driven by a Section 21 company, which aims to provide affordable and decent housing to all the people in the Western Cape. Thembi Sithole, who has bought a three-bedroom unit, says now that she has a house of her own, the comfort that she yearned for her family has finally been realised.
"People who benefit from this project must understand that it is in the payment of their rentals that the company will grow. If they do not do what is required of them, which is pay rent, the company will not be able to grow. If the company does not grow, we will not be able to provide people with housing. We have 2.2 million households out there waiting for an opportunity to get into housing," the minister said.
Protests by tenants
Sisulu was assured by the management of Communicare, an NGO that builds houses, that they will assist in making high standard alternative accommodation available. Sisulu said her department would cooperate with housing developers who have committed themselves in the provision of faultless workmanship.
Cape Town has recently experienced several protests by tenants from the nearby N2 Gateway housing project, complaining over poor workmanship and high rent. - SABC
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