Cape Town - The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure says it is making strides in getting back the State-owned land from illegal occupiers.
Over the past eight weeks, Minister Dean Macpherson proudly declared that substantial progress has been made in revitalising the government’s commitment to serving the nation’s citizens.
However, the success of their endeavours to initiate impactful construction projects throughout the country hinges entirely on the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.
Macpherson briefed the media on the steps they have taken to bring stability to the department.
“And also the work we are doing to transform this department into an economic delivery unit for South Africa in the coming months ahead.
“Because the success of the Government of National Unity (GNU) should be measured to what extent it brings down the country’s stubbornly high unemployment rate.
“Any idea, policy or decision that is not evidence-based and does not aid in bringing down unemployment should be immediately discarded.”
Macpherson said this week that he was working with the City of Cape Town and Home Affairs to fast-track the eviction of the Wingfield’s illegal occupants and the refugees at the Tent City in Kensington.
“Our role is to acquire the land back, there are people who are illegally occupying the land.
“We just want to get the land and then we will work with the (Ndabeni) trust, and the City. There was an agreement some time ago to hand it over to them (Trust) but we’ve got to start with the people who are occupying there.
“We are prepared to work with any department that wants to use public assets, whether it’s the Human Settlements department or the City of
Cape Town.
“It’s about time we started using the vast land and the 88 000 buildings. What I do know from the public statements by the Mayor of Cape Town, is for the past couple of years, he’s been desperate to get the land but now we will be able to work together.”
He explained that they were waiting for the public to oppose the application of the occupants outside the Castle of Good Hope.
“We have served everyone there with the papers. And we are looking into finalising that by the end of September.”
With regards to the hijacking of buildings, the Minister said there were 338 buildings and only one was reclaimed in eThekweni, KwaZulu-Natal. Macpherson said that while these buildings were occupied illegally they are still paying the rates.
“It’s just unthinkable that we allow buildings to become dilapidated and then we still pay for them. That is the discussion that I have had with the eThekwini Mayor that maybe they can take those buildings in lieu of that payment.
“We are looking at those collaborative approaches…. We can’t pay for hijacked and dilapidated buildings, that’s crazy.
Cape Argus