Sisulu hands over houses to Bay military veterans
HUMAN Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu refused to be drawn into any discussion about her ambitions for the ANC top seat as she handed over houses to military veterans in Nelson Mandela Bay yesterday.
Sisulu joined mayor Athol Trollip and the Bay’s human settlements political head Nqaba Bhanga in Chatty Extension, where 20 houses were handed over.
Sisulu, who appeared to put her hand up in East London at the weekend for the ANC’s coveted presidential post, said yesterday she would only talk about matters pertaining to housing.
Asked about her ambitions to lead the ANC, Sisulu said: “We are talking about housing.
“Please, let’s concentrate on what we are here for because it is much more important than the question you are asking.
“That can be answered at any other time, but right now – as the mayor has indicated – we have a serious shortage of houses in Nelson Mandela and we are now beginning to come together and we are working together.”
Trollip said it was significant that Sisulu came to Nelson Mandela Bay on Mandela Day for the handing over of houses to military veterans.
“Nelson Mandela Bay is the only city in the world that is named after our former president and that comes with enormous responsibility . . . and enormous expectations,” Trollip said.
“I appreciate that the minister has committed herself to cooperate with us and meet with us very soon to talk about the status quo of housing delivery in Nelson Mandela Bay.”
The two are set to meet again tomorrow as the metro hopes to convince her to hand over the function of building RDP houses to the city.
Currently, it is managed by the provincial department and the Housing Development Agency on behalf of Sisulu’s department.
Sisulu said it was a disgrace that houses that were built for military veterans had been vandalised.
“The biggest problem is that every house that has been completed is open to vandalism by the community here,” she said.
One of the housing beneficiaries, Sipho Nohlawu, 69, thanked Sisulu and said they would not have had houses were it not for her.