The IFP is calling for the KZN Department of Human Settlements to ensure that all those in need of housing are treated equally. Military veterans must not be prioritised over other citizens in the allocation of housing in the province.
According to media reports, “the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has moved to set aside almost R100 million for military veterans housing projects across the province.”
We are not against the provision of houses for military veterans. However, we would like to remind the Department of Human Settlements that there are people in the rural areas who have been waiting for RDP houses since the dawn of democracy. They have been on waiting lists for houses for many years, yet the Department is silent about plans for them. In areas like eThekwini Metro and other cities, there are people who have been living in informal settlements and temporary houses (olindela) for years.
During Tropical Cyclone Eloise, numerous people in the uMkhanyakude District were affected, due to the fact that they were living in dilapidated houses. The devastation caused by the storm exposed the failure of the Department of Human Settlements to provide people with decent housing. This is why we wish to reiterate our call that housing for all those in need must be a priority, not just for a select group, such as military veterans.
Further, we want answers from the KZN MEC for Human Settlements, Peggy Nkonyeni, on the construction of these housing projects, because public funds will be used. Have companies already been appointed to build houses for military veterans? If yes, when was the tender advertised and awarded? Which selection procedure was used to select qualified contractors? When is the construction work anticipated to start, and finish? What plans are in place to prevent shoddy workmanship? All these questions need to be answered, in the interests of accountability.
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Contact:
Mrs Thokozile Gumede, MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Human Settlements,
073 583 8585
