DA calls on Minister Sisulu to come clean on Tongaat Mall funding

24 October 2014

The DA will today write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Nocawe Mafu, requesting that she summon the Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu, to Parliament to account for the department's involvement in partially funding the Tongaat Mall in Durban. 

Reports revealed yesterday that Minister Sisulu confirmed that her department had been involved in the funding of this mall and thus we implore the Minister to come clean on the extent of her department's involvement. 

Minister Sisulu said: "The tragedy about that building is that it was partly funded by myself [...] Part of the funding did come from human settlements."

The DA will submit parliamentary questions to ascertain how funds from the Department of Human Settlements were channelled and approved by the Minister to fund the construction of the mall. 

Housing money should not be spent on building malls. 

After the investigation is complete, the full might of the law must be enforced to hold those accountable for abusing tax payer's money. 

Sadly, two people were killed and 29 workers were injured in the collapse of the mall on 19 November last year.

We cannot stand by and watch money that is meant to assist the poor to be used on building malls. 

Taking money meant to build houses for the poor to build malls is criminal and as such all involved must face the full might of the law. It does not matter if they are developers, politicians or Human Settlements officials

Statement issued by Makashule Gana MP, DA Shadow Minister for Human Settlements, October 24 2014

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