City provides long-term solution to Lwandle situation

The City of Cape Town has developed a long-term solution to the current situation in Lwandle - a solution which has been agreed to by the National Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu.

The City is determined that, in addressing the situation that has developed in Lwandle on the Sanral-owned land, a lasting solution to the broader housing needs in the area are addressed.

To this end, the City is already in the advanced stage of planning to develop a major new housing project in Macassar. This development will allow beneficiaries from Solis Town, Greenfields, Polile, Wag ‘n Bietjie, Macassar backyarders and the families affected by the Sanral evictions to be accommodated.

This will be a high density development and will ensure that the housing needs of the identified communities can be addressed.

In the interim, those residents affected by evictions on the Sanral land will return to the Sanral-owned site. The City will provide the necessary emergency housing starter structures and will assist through our Expanded Public Works Programme with the erection of the kits. The City will also provide sanitation, in the form of chemical toilets on the periphery of the Sanral land.

Over the next three months, the City will provide full flush toilets on the City-owned land on the periphery. It needs to be stressed that the City is prohibited by law from providing services on land owned by another sphere of government or private land owner. The Housing Development Agency (HDA) will be tasked with liaising with ESKOM to explore the viability of electricity provision.

The City is confident that we have developed a resolution to the current problems in Lwandle in a responsible and sustainable fashion. We have done so to fulfil our commitments as a caring city and to protect the rights of residents affected, most especially those people who have been waiting patiently on the housing database.

Statement issued by Cape Town Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille, City of Cape Town, June 11 2014

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