Statement by the City’s Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille
City responds to Minister Sisulu’s statements on Lwandle
I have written to the National Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu,
today confirming that the City of Cape Town, as a caring city, is ready and
prepared to provide emergency housing kits to residents affected by the
Lwandle evictions. Cape Town is the only metro in South Africa to have
developed enhanced kits of this nature and that is able to deploy them at
short notice.
In my letter to the Minister, I have noted a discussion I had with her late
yesterday, confirming that the national government will cover the costs of the
approximately 235 kits that will be made available. The City has to be
compliant with all legislation impacting on local government and in this
instance it means recovering the costs of the provision of the starter kits in
question.
The City had made all of the necessary arrangements to distribute these
emergency housing kits from early this morning, but national government and
Sanral have yet to identify the alternative site for relocation.
Once the City receives the exact location of the site (with the necessary land
use and other approvals) from Sanral or the National Minister, we will be able
to provide these kits in a matter of hours.
It needs to be stressed again that the City has proactively provided
assistance to those residents affected by the events of this week. The City
continues to provide emergency accommodation to a number of people
affected and is now on standby to provide the emergency housing kits
outlined above.