[Johannesburg] Housing and Land: We demand answers

southern africa | community struggles | non-anarchist press Wednesday August 16, 2017 05:09 by Gauteng Civic Association - GCA

Gauteng Civic Association Mass Rally

About 40 communities from southern Johannesburg have united under the banner of Gauteng Civics. The Gauteng Civics have summonsed the national Minister of Human Settlements, the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlement, Mr Paul Mashatile, and the Mayor of the City of Joburg, Herman Mashaba, to our mass rally on Saturday 19 August to answer our demands for housing and land.

We have many housing problems. These include overcrowding, a growing backlog, an increase in informal settlements and backyard dwellings, evictions and house repossessions, financial discrimination against the "missing middle."The problems are made worse by crime, drugs erratic and unaffordable electricity and water supplies, women and child abuse, mass unemployment and poverty. Working class and poor communities are all marginalized.

Let us unite and hold government to account!!

Provincial and national government representatives have promised that they will build houses and even identify land for this pupose. They have invited communities to participate in verification of the housing waiting lists and registration for houses. But the process has been marked by chaos, administrative bungling, indifference and arrogance by officials. Whilst promising to identify land and build houses, the housing budget has reportedly been slashed. The DA Mayor has argued that he has no budget to meet housing needs.

We have now decided to invite the Minister and Gauteng MEC for Human Settlement as well as Mayor to report back to us collectively as united communities on progress with meeting our demands. We warned them that should they fail to accept our invitation or meet our demands, we will embark on a united roling campaign of mass action.

Attend the Mass Rally on 19 August 2017. For more info contact: Thami 0623090468, Weizy 0813667375, Farouk 0813667375