It is the third time lucky for the MMC of Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, after returning to his position for the third time, now under Mayor Dada Morero.
He attributed this to good leadership. He said people want to be led.
“People have cried for leadership in this department, as was demonstrated by my return, and that is what we will do – lead. We must account to the public. I am not afraid to go to the public and listen to them.
“When you give people a platform, you hear their frustrations about the city’s performance. This platform was lacking, so we need to give people one to make their voices heard. I mean, waiting for a house since 1996 is frustrating. Those in informal settlements have nowhere to go and must be listened to. You must also be seen working, so I guess that is why I was brought back,” explained Mabaso.
He outlined various plans for his department, including the formalisation of informal settlements, the restructuring of hostels, new housing mega-projects and the plan for people occupying vacant spaces illegally.
“People forget that vacant spaces are there for developments, which will help the people of Johannesburg. Sometimes, people mistake the government’s involvement in this regard. When we audit illegal settlements, we are not necessarily condoning the unlawful occupation.
“We urge people not to buy stands because this exacerbates the invasion problem. We work with law enforcement to curb this. We know there’s an element of demand for housing in Johannesburg,” he said.
He also touched on the plight of old age homes in the city.
“Bureaucratic frustrations cause most problems, and this hinders progress. Those who want to work get frustrated by our internal processes. There’s quite a lot of red tape. Old-age homes indeed need special attention.
“When you deal with old age homes, you must be careful because it is a delicate space. I remember they [old people] used to call me, and I would listen to them for a long time and give them my time,” he said.
Mabaso mentioned that the last time he left the department, there was a motion by the council that he did not support – that old age homes move from the Human Settlement Department to the Social Development Department.
“We first need to manage the facility before we come to the actual tenants who live there. We need to ensure there is access control so people don’t enter as they wish. Ensure the facility is conducive and enables an environment for elderly people to live in peace. Everything must work properly,” he said.
He also said that a big project is coming, Southern Farm, to alleviate the housing problem in the south.
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