Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu called on municipalities to suspend cutting off water to residents and repeated her call for suspension of evictions.
Sisulu met with civil society organisations to discuss interventions in densely populated informal settlements as part of efforts to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19.
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During the meeting, recent evictions in Makhaza informal settlement in the Western Cape were discussed.
Sisulu emphasised that everyone should adhere to the directive by government that all evictions be suspended during the lockdown period.
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She also called for the municipalities to suspend cutting water supply for the duration of the lockdown as government has called on citizens to practice hygiene by washing their hands several times a day to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection.
Sisulu received mixed messages as to what occurred regarding the Makhaza evictions.
In a statement issued this afternoon it is stated she was informed that the people who were evicted were prevented from erecting new shacks.
Other reports alleged that people invaded the land with the assistance of an opposition party.
Sisulu will travel to the Western Cape this week to seek a solution.
She assured civil society groups that during the re-blocking process, which is aimed at easing congestion in informal settlements, no residents will be evicted.
She said this will be done on a voluntary basis.
The only thing that has been done by my office is send out a directive to suspend evictions as long as the country continues to work on mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
— Lindiwe Sisulu (@LindiweSisuluSA) April 12, 2020
“The civil society groups continue to work with government to convey a message to communities that it is in their interest to be moved to 27 land parcels identified and currently being prepared by Human Settlements for re-settlement as a result of re-blocking.
“Apart from the suspensions in evictions, there should be no cutting off of water for any citizen of this country during this period.
“Instead, all efforts should be focused on fighting the spread of the virus,” said Sisulu.
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