Update

GEORGE NEWS - The recent violent service delivery protests in the Garden Route (GR) caught the attention of national government. Minister of Human Settlements Nomaindia Mfeketo and Western Cape MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela visited the protest-affected towns in the region - Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and George - to address a number of housing issues on Thursday and Friday, 5 and 6 July. 

The two ministers held a community imbizo at New Horizon township in Plettenberg Bay on Thursday and handed over a house to Nokwakha Msebenzi (80) in Knysna. Msebenzi's house burned down during last year's Knysna fires.

On Friday the minister visited one of the beneficiaries of the newly built UISP (Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme) housing, Zingiswa Silingile (68) in Asazani, Thembalethu. The two ministers were accompanied by George Mayor Melvin Naik.

Phase 1 of the UISP in Thembalethu commenced on 27 February 2017 and was completed on 30 April 2018. The size of each house is 42m². A total of 150 houses have been built and handed over. Phase 2 of the UISP commenced on 19 January 2018, with the completion date being 31 December 2018. A total of 251 houses will be built in this phase.

Mfeketo told George Herald that she came to the Garden Route to view the progress of housing projects and listen to concerns that people have with housing issues. 

"I must say there is progress being made. However, I must acknowledge there are still challenges in terms of service delivery, as budget allocation is sometimes not enough," said Mfeketo.

She said one of the reasons for these protests is because, when people see there's a development and that houses are built, "they quickly build shacks in the hope that they will get houses, ignoring the waiting list. Another thing that motivates these protests is the current land debate in South Africa on land expropriation without compensation."

From left are: George Mayor Melvin Naik, George Councillor Ntombi James, Minister Nomaindia Mfeketo, Zingiswa Silingile (housing beneficiary) and MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela. Photos: Zolani Sinxo