Category Archives: slum eradication

eThekwini Municipality Finally Admits the Obvious – that It’s ‘Target’ of ‘Clearing the Slums’ by 2010 is Impossible

Mercury, page 5, March 6, 2007

‘Building 2.4m Units By 2014 Will Need a Miracle’

HOUSING TARGET IS UNREALISTIC, SAY OFFICIALS

Carvin Goldstone

South Africa would have to build 2.4 million houses – or about 30 000 started homes a month – if it wanted to complete its low-cost housingFprogramme by the target date of 2014. However government officials are now admitting that this target is unrealistic.

S’bu Gumede, Chariman of the eThekwini Municipality’s housing subcommittee, said yesterday that South Africa was not doing enough to meet its goal of housing the country’s poorer communities by 2014.

He told politicians and officials at a housing subcommittee meeting that the city Housing Department might need to build twice as many houses every year if it planned to meet its goal in the next seven years. Continue reading →

Shackdweller suppression bill pushed ahead by provincial MEC

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http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3569251

New Bill to block slum growth

November 30, 2006 Edition 1

A GROUND-BREAKING Bill seeking to stop the re-emergence of slums in urban areas where slums have been eradicated was tabled in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, sitting in Dududu, uMzinto, yesterday.

Sponsored by the Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs Department, once passed into law the Bill would go a long way towards the eradication of slums in the province, said the department’s MEC, Mike Mabuyakhulu.

It would prevent those people who have been provided with government houses from establishing new slums in other areas.

Tabling the Bill, Mabuyakhulu said it also sought to prohibit unlawful occupation of vacant land and the erection of substandard accommodation.

“It will also determine the functions of the owners of land, the municipalities and the provincial department as well as the manner in which the landowners can enforce their rights,” he said.

He added: “We in KwaZulu-Natal hope to make a serious dent on slums by 2010.” – Political Staff