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According to a reply to a written question posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the Gauteng MEC of Human Settlements, Paul Mashatile, the province’s housing backlog increased by 14 479 or 66.53% between the 2015/16 (28 785) and 2016/17 (43 264) financial years.

The general increase shows that the ANC-led Gauteng administration is struggling to create much-needed housing opportunities for the people of the province.

MEC Mashatile is quoted as saying that “the responsibility to provide housing in the whole country is that of the National Department of Human Settlements and provinces.” Therefore both the National and Gauteng Departments of Human Settlements are failing in their mandates and generally regressing in the delivery of housing for the people of Gauteng.

In contrast, since being elected to govern in Tshwane and Johannesburg, the DA-led administrations have committed to delivering housing opportunities and title deeds within the mandate it derives from legislation.

The Tshwane administration under the leadership of Executive Mayor, Solly Msimanga, has to date handed over 2804 title deeds since assuming office and is scheduled to hand over 6000 title deeds to residents in the 2017/18 financial year.

Led by Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, the Johannesburg administration has committed to building 5 000 mixed housing developments in the current financial year and a total of 17 200 over the medium term. Added to this, the City has set itself the task of upgrading 10 informal settlements in this financial year alone. In this regard, Mayor Mashaba has budgeted R1.9 billion to upgrade 50 informal settlements in the medium term.

Although the delivery of housing falls primarily with the National and Provincial spheres of government, the DA is already doing all it can to ensure that residences in DA-governed local jurisdictions in Gauteng are afforded the right to and dignity of quality housing and the ownership thereof.

It is this brand of good governance and a caring government that the DA commits to come 2019 when the people will vote for the DA to lead the province.

Issued by DA