Latest news with #HumanSettlements
The South African
2 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
eThekwini residents build shacks on cemetery graves
More than 400 community members are living in informal settlements at Seaview Cemetery in Ward 64, under the eThekwini Municipality. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said some residents erected shacks directly on top of graves. Duma said that on Sunday, he instructed the Head of the Department of Human Settlements, Max Mbili, to work with the municipality to expedite the profiling of families living at the cemetery on Coedmore Road. He reminded residents that the democratic government under Nelson Mandela prioritised housing construction in the area shortly after 1994. 'Priority was given to families who had lived in the area since 1981. It is unfortunate that despite having relocated communities, some came back to the area and others built new informal settlements in the same area,' Duma said. Around 2000, officials relocated families from the cemetery area to new homes in Welbedacht, Chatsworth. These officials included the late KZN MEC for Housing, Dumisane Makhaye, former MEC for Housing, Mike Mabuyakhulu, former eThekwini Mayor, Obed Mlaba, and Nigel Gumede, former Chair of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee. Duma acknowledged that people migrate to eThekwini in search of socio-economic opportunities due to housing and land shortages, but stressed the need to respect burial grounds. 'Cemeteries are sacred places where the dead must be allowed to rest in peace. We call on communities to respect the departed soul,' he said. The Department of Human Settlements continues to engage with Ratepayers Associations regarding state-owned land where housing projects face delays. According to The Citizen , Duma confirmed that the department is conducting comprehensive research into housing needs across four priority groups: Households living on privately owned land facing eviction Households in rural or informal settlements in disaster-prone areas Households living in graveyards, such as Seaview Cemetery Farm dwellers The research will involve institutions such as the Moses Kotane Research Institute, National Home Builders Registration Council, Stats SA, CSIR, and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. While research continues, the department has identified the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality as the pilot site for the Agri-Village programme. The initiative, involving the Department of Land Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, aims to improve living conditions for farm dwellers by ensuring access to decent housing, water, electricity, roads, and socio-economic opportunities. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Gqeberha protesters throw poo at ward members
Residents of Wells Estate in Gqeberha launched a fiery (and smelly) protest that brought the area to a halt. The unrest began on Monday night when protesters from Rabie Village, angry over long-overdue electricity meter boxes, dumped human waste outside the local clinic and the homes of ward committee members. By Tuesday, roads were barricaded, a bus and a panel van had been torched, and tensions ran high. Residents say they've been waiting since November last year for electricity connections that were promised to them by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. On top of chucking poo, protesters also hurled a petrol bomb at the local councillor's office. 'Community members started burning tyres and rubbish in front of the multi-purpose hall,' police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg said in a statement. 'No one was injured. SAPS is currently monitoring the situation in Wells Estate.' According to Chwayita Adoons, assistant to Gqeberha ward 60 councillor and Mayco member for Human Settlements Thembinkosi Mfana, around 4 000 meter boxes were delivered to the municipality, but very few reached Rabie Village. Of the 985 households in the area, only 40 meters were brought in during a recent installation attempt. 'We wrote a letter to the residents, informing them that the boxes would be delayed,' Adoons told GroundUp . 'We did not have a specific date for delivery.' When the contractor arrived with just 40 boxes people rejected them outright, said a community member who wished to remain anonymous. 'We are all angry, asking one another who was going to benefit from those 40 boxes.' 'People then decided that the boxes should go back, and the contractor should only return when they have boxes for every household.' The poo protesters are also demanding the release of two women who were arrested for public violence during the demonstrations. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
South Africa: Human Settlements Committee Receives Update on Petitions With Varying Degrees of Satisfaction
The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has received updates from the Department of Human Settlements, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, and the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and City of Cape Town on various petitions the committee is considering and has highlighted mixed reactions to the reports. The committee remains of the view that all stakeholders must not rest on their laurels in bringing finality to the petitions. SLOVO PARK INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS UPGRADING The committee welcomed the progress made by both the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the City of Johannesburg, including the completion of the electrification of households. Also, the committee welcomed the appointment of Joburg Water for the installation of water and sewage infrastructure. The committee has highlighted that in the context of the history of the promises made to the residents of Slovo Park, the movement is welcomed, albeit long overdue. The committee also welcomed the collaboration between the City of Johannesburg and the provincial department to achieve the medium and long-term interventions planned for the area. The committee has also urged all stakeholders to expedite procurement and other related processes to ensure the achievement of targets. Also, the committee welcomed the assurance that community engagements and sharing of information with residents have been enhanced to ensure a free flow of information between the government and the people. 'The issue of stakeholder engagement is critical to allay fears and eliminate any flare-up of protests. It is critical that as new developments arise and some impediments delay projects, people are informed,' said Mr Nocks Seabi, the Chairperson of the committee. MAWIGA PETITION Members of the committee were disappointed with the slow response to finding solutions to the petitioners' challenges. While the committee acknowledged that there is progress with sites identified and agreed to by two petitioners, the fact that the building of top structures will only commence next year is concerning. Despite this, the committee called for clear monitoring of the progress to ensure that timelines are adhered to, especially in the context of the length of time it has taken to get to this point. The MAWIGA (Mabopane, Winterveld and Ga-Rankuwa petitioners) submitted a petition alleging maladministration against the City of Tshwane and North West Housing Corporation officials for illegally selling and transferring their properties without their consent. The committee has called on the City of Tshwane and the Gauteng Provincial Government to expedite the processes to obtain the clearance certificate on the identified land for Mr Mere. The committee has mandated the city to provide regular progress reports on processes to obtain the clearance certificate. With regards to the North West Provincial Government, the committee is concerned that the Rustenburg Municipality does not have the appetite to approve a house on the military veteran's quantum on the site identified because the site is on prime land. The committee has called on the department to heighten engagement to ensure that an alternative site is found and that Mr Kgasoe is engaged to ascertain that he agrees with the site. Despite these challenges, the committee noted that commendable work has been done to resolve the petitions. New Mandela Square (Western Cape) The committee has welcomed commendable progress in achieving the project milestones promised to the committee. Despite this, the committee has called for mechanisms to ensure that the implementation of the projects is not hampered by inter-departmental dependencies, such as the procurement of private land and installation of bulk services. The committee is cognisant that in most cases, projects are affected by delays from varying spheres of government and has called for proactive measures to ensure that this does not hamper progress. The committee remains committed to receiving regular reports to ensure the resolution of the various petitions being considered by the committee. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- The Citizen
Community slam delays on broken Zone 7 road
The U-Road next to Zone 7 Stadium is still in bad shape, with no tar and sewage water flowing all over, despite promises to fix it in 2020. Ward 42 Councillor, Ayanda Ngubane of the DA told Sedibeng Ster that about R50m was spent on the project, but the road is still incomplete, and no sewer system was installed. He said building materials were left on site and later stolen. Back in 2020, then Gauteng Minister of Human Settlements, Human Planning, Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs Lebohang Maile said in the legislature that the road would be finished that year. The work of a contractor who was paid more than R19m out of a R33.8m tender was terminated when the job was 85% done. Since then, nothing has changed. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the residents decried the project. 'We're tired of unfinished projects. Where did the money go? Elections are coming, and soon politicians will be back begging for votes,' said one community member. Ngubane said U-Road was supposed to connect Zone 7 Ext 1 to Nguna Road and include a bridge, but that was never built. 'This road has become a crime hotspot, and many people have died here,' he said. He added that the road is now unusable for cars, overgrown with grass and full of sewage. 'The DA will send follow-up questions to the MEC for Roads and Transport to find out when this road will finally be completed.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
R50m later… U-Road is still unfinished
SEBOKENG. – The U-Road next to Zone 7 Stadium is still in bad shape, with no tar and sewage water flowing all over, despite promises to fix it in 2020. Ward 42 Councillor, Ayanda Ngubane of the DA told Sedibeng Ster that about R50m was spent on the project, but the road is still incomplete, and no sewer system was installed. He said building materials were left on site and later stolen. Back in 2020, then Gauteng Minister of Human Settlements, Human Planning, Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs Lebohang Maile said in the legislature that the road would be finished that year. The work of a contractor who was paid more than R19m out of a R33.8m tender was terminated when the job was 85% done. Since then, nothing has changed. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the residents decried the project. 'We're tired of unfinished projects. Where did the money go? Elections are coming, and soon politicians will be back begging for votes,' said one community member. Ngubane said U-Road was supposed to connect Zone 7 Ext 1 to Nguna Road and include a bridge, but that was never built. 'This road has become a crime hotspot, and many people have died here,' he said. He added that the road is now unusable for cars, overgrown with grass and full of sewage. 'The DA will send follow-up questions to the MEC for Roads and Transport to find out when this road will finally be completed.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
