Makhura blames it on migration and urbanisation after Greenville Informal settlement fire
ALEXANDRA – Gauteng premier said his province has built more than 1.2 million houses since 1994.
Gauteng premier David Makhura has defended the housing department in both provincial and local spheres of government after the fire swept hundreds of shacks in Greenville Informal Settlements in Alexandra.
More than 600 families were displaced after the fire. The man responsible died later in hospital after he was beaten by a mob accusing him of burning their shacks.
Speaking to the media after his walk around on the scene Makhura said, the shortage of houses in the province was not because of government failure to build houses for people but the rapid growth of population due to migration and urbanisation. “Gauteng has delivered the largest number of houses in the country. The province has built more 1.2 million houses since 1994. However, we know that it is not enough in the province with such a rapid growth of population due to migration and urbanisation.
“We have the largest wave of people moving into our province. The more houses we build, the more people come into the province.”
Makhura said they will continue as a government to ensure that the province gets rid of shacks by providing proper housing system for the poor.
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Help those affected by the Alex fire
