Legislature debates blame for housing shortage

A DEBATE over who is accountable for the lack of transformative inner city housing yesterday saw the DA’s human settlements spokesperson Matlhodi Maseko blaming the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) for holding up 10 000 housing opportunities.

Maseko told the legislature that the DPWI was the greatest obstacle to unlocking transformative inner city housing opportunities.

“Despite the department’s identification of land parcels in and around the city for an estimated 10 000 housing opportunities, the DPWI refused to hand over the land for housing and this leaves land vacant subject to invasion, which DPWI itself has pointed out as a major risk.

“Should the national government grant power of attorney to the provincial government along with the necessary funding, then affordable housing opportunities can become a reality. The DPWI, led by Minister Patricia De Lille, holds the keys to transformation in the city.”

The debate sprang from a question by Good party MPL Brett Herron to Human Settlements MEC Tertius Simmers regarding a March 2019 budget speech declaration by the then MEC that promised that 8.4 hectares had been identified and secured and when completed the project would yield 10 000 housing opportunities.

During the debate, Herron said housing was not a priority for the provincial government.

“If it were, you could turn around your failing housing delivery by changing your attitude. You can deliver the 10 000 housing opportunities you promised and you don’t need national government funding or national government land.

“You have been making the same damn promises for 10 years.”