Staff Reporter
30 November 2016
The City of Tshwane says various obstacles prevent the achievement of sustainable housing as outlined within Tshwane 2055 Growth and Development Strategy (GDS), such as the rate of formal housing delivery not keeping pace with the expansion of informal settlements and the formalisation of existing settlements being a lengthy, complex process.
City Executive Mayor Spokesperson, Mr Samkelo Mgobozi, said adding to the problem as outlined in the GDS is that Informal settlements do not comply with Building Regulations and there is Inferior access to social facilities such as libraries, public amenities and clinics and Inferior transport facilities and infrastructure.
To this end, the City is pursuing the relocation of some residents who have unlawfully occupied land until such time as the necessary infrastructure, flood lines, electricity, water and sanitation has been installed and the distribution of living space is tended to in a manner that is fair and equitable.
He said the City is working tirelessly to ensure that all eligible people get access to the housing they require and condemned the repeated spate of land invasions and the violent nature in which they are being conducted. “While the City appreciate the frustrations of residents in the City, the unlawful seizure of land does not help but serves to exacerbate hardship down the line,” he said.
He affirmed the Cities commitment to speed up the eradication of informal settlements and to promote security of tenure through the provision of proper housing opportunities and said land invasions are not only unlawful but create future hardship in those areas were land is seized without the necessary bulk infrastructure.
“The main strategic focus for housing development is on creating sustainable housing which is located close to economic opportunities. “This is highlighted in the GDS compaction and densification approach to combat urban sprawl and increase economic sustainability,” he said.
Mr Mgobozi appealed to residents to report suspected land invasions at the Tshwane Metro Police Control on 0826119974 (24hrs)