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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) notes the decision by eThekwini Municipality to conduct oversight inspections at transit camps within the Metro tomorrow.

According to a letter from Deputy Mayor and Human Settlements and Infrastructure Chairperson, Councillor Philani Mavundla, to the province’s Human Settlements portfolio committee Chairperson, the visits will include the KwaMashu, Marrianridge and Isipingo transit camps.(view here)

The DA is pleased to note that the issue of transit camps is at last being prioritized by the eThekwini municipality. It does not come a moment too soon.

Last month I spent two days and nights in the Mathe transit camp in Lamontville. This after a promise I made to its inhabitants while campaigning for the 2021 Local Government Elections (LGE).

During my stay at Mathe, I experienced first-hand the inequality and the shocking living conditions of its residents. As a result, I have pledged to do everything in my power to assist them. Part of this is to ensure strict oversight of any interventions at both a provincial and municipal level when it comes to suitable housing.

For far too long, this important matter has been put on the back-burner, with continued promises and little or no action. Premier Sihle Zikalala also ignored the challenges I raised during his State of the Province Address debate, instead choosing to racialize and politicize the issue. This is nothing more than the DA has come to expect from him.

This is in stark contrast to his KZN Human Settlements MEC, Jomo Sibiya who showed true non-partisan leadership at the SOPA Debate when he personally engaged with transit camp community members and undertook to investigate the concerns I had raised.

The DA remains committed to ensuring that KZN’s people do not end up sitting in transit camps for years on end as a result of false ANC promises. The ongoing socio-economic disparity and inequality that exists for so many of our province’s people must be addressed by this ANC-run government.

Issued by Leader of the DA in the KZN Legislature, Francois Rodgers, MPL