Duduza – The visit was part of an oversight role to ensure that the city delivers on their commitment to build 100 000 houses, electrify all informal settlements and provides 59 000 service stands to the residents of Ekurhuleni.
Ekurhuleni caucus chief whip, councillor Jongizizwe Dlabathi, says the private and public partnership worth R8.9-billion housing development project is set to provide 22 000 houses over the next seven years.
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“People who applied for houses in 1996 are prioritised and will be considered for the allocation of houses.
“The Extension 22 housing project is currently in phase three and a total of 8 000 housing units will be built.
“The John Dube precinct development will include community facilities, education facilities, including a world class university, healthcare facility, commercial and industrial parks, regional mall and recreation,” he says.
Dlabathi says the service delivery is not complete until the residents of Ext 22 receive electricity and this will be reported to council.
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“We will also report the slow allocation of houses to our people and we intend to put political pressure to ensure that we achieve our service delivery commitments as per our localised manifesto,” he says.
The residents also raised their concerns about their electrical connections.
“We have received a report from Eskom that they are working on resolving the electricity challenges,” he says.
Concerned resident Sarah Toba (67) says she has been waiting to receive her RDP house for 22 years.
“I am hoping I will be one of the residents who will finally have a house after many years of waiting.
“Government is my last hope of having a home for my children because I am a pensioner and cannot afford to build one for them,” she says.
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