We have been made aware of the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Uhuru Moiloa’s visit to Zandspruit, claiming that he would invite the City of Johannesburg, amongst others, to plan for housing development in the area.
The MEC’s comments are bizarre, since it has been the City’s efforts, over the last two years, which have now brought us so close to electrifying and formalising Zandspruit.
A township application for Zandspruit Extension 16 was approved during October 2016. This was followed by a pre-proclamation of the township in March 2017 and a General Plan during April 2018.
The electrification of Zandspruit has been a priority for the Housing Department since early last year. We have had discussions with Eskom and already submitted an application to them to electrify the informal settlement.
Since then, we have been in talks with Eskom on a monthly basis ensuring that the project delivery runs smoothly. The first phase of the three-year project will commence soon, as the final processes before the project start, including decanting and appointing local labour, are undertaken.
The Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, also revisited Zandspruit in November to provide community leaders with an update on the City’s plans for the electrification and development of their township. During the Council meeting on 31 October 2018, several resolutions were reached that ensured no further delays in delivering essential services and restoring dignity to the people of Zandspruit.
The electrification of the area forms part of our overall implementation plan for the development of Zandspruit. The project is earmarked to formally commence on the 12th of March 2019. We have heard residents’ cries ever since our multiparty government took over this administration. Why were their cries not heard, over the last two decades, under the previous administration’s leadership?
If the province has still not been able to do anything about bettering the lives of people in Zandspruit, there should be no reason to believe that they will start now.
Province should first work on delivering on their own promises before taking credit for the current administration’s work.
They have been failing dismally to take action in terms of applying for electrification on their own state owned properties with Eskom, such as Doornkop, where the City is once again having to step in.
For media queries:
Willington Simelane
Stakeholder Manager: MMC for Housing
071 865 2920
willingtons@joburg.org.za
Or
Chantelle Fourie-Shawe
Media Specialist: Office of the Executive Mayor
081 546 1014
chantellef@joburg.org.za
