anyaza promise to end informal settlements with decent housing in Gauteng
Picture courtesy (Gauteng Government)- Panyaza Lesufi arriving at Nasrec Expo Center in Johannesburg, to deliver the State of the Province Address.
Vhusani Nemutavhanan
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi delivered a resolute State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday evening at the Nasrec Expo Center in Johannesburg, outlining ambitious plans to eliminate informal settlements and provide proper housing for its residents.
Lesufi expressed determination to replace over sixty-eight informal settlements with upgraded housing infrastructure, signaling a significant shift in the province’s approach to addressing housing challenges.
Panyaza Targets 700 Informal Settlements
During his address, Premier Lesufi emphasised the urgency of ending the prevalence of informal settlements within Gauteng, citing the current existence of 700 such settlements as unacceptable. He highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring that every citizen has access to adequate housing, complete with essential amenities such as
water, electricity, and sewage systems.
Panyaza’s Focus on Youth and Dignified Living
Lesufi underscored the importance of providing young people with the opportunity to move out of informal settlements and into dignified living conditions.
“We can’t have so many informal settlements in our province,” Premier Lesufi declared to Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs), signaling a decisive stance on the issue. He outlined concrete steps already underway, including the relocation of 2,000 households from 20 informal settlements into completed mega projects, providing them with
security of tenure and improved living standards.
The premier’s address, however, has drawn mixed reactions from opposition parties, notably the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Action SA. Critics from these parties accuse the ruling African National Congress (ANC) of using promises of housing upgrade as a ploy to secure votes, labeling the pledges as false hope for desperate citizens.
The SOPA follows closely on the heels of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by the president a week prior, which also faced criticism from opposition parties and a disillusioned South African populace. The convergence of these critical addresses underscores the pressing challenges facing the nation and the expectations placed on political leaders to deliver tangible solutions.
As Gauteng Province charts a course towards eradicating informal settlements and improving housing infrastructure, Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s bold promises signal a new chapter in the province’s commitment to addressing socio economic inequalities and providing dignified living conditions for all its residents.
However, with skepticism lingering among opposition groups, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges as the province endeavours to turn promises into meaningful action.
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