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11 April 2008

At least 5 000 of the 40 000 jobs to be created through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) this financial year should be allocated to the residents of the greater Athlone area to alleviate abject poverty, said Premier Ebrahim Rasool during an Imbizo at the Athlone Civic Centre last night.

Premier Rasool was responding to pleas of employment opportunities from the 450 residents who attended the Imbizo to interact with the Provincial Cabinet. Premier Rasool was flanked by the Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Whitey Jacobs, MEC for Local Government and Housing, Qubudile Dyantyi and ward councillors.

Premier Rasool and his cabinet noted the teething concerns raised by the communities. He said that the small building contractors and the jobless people would be trained soon to ensure they benefit from the development earmarked for the area. He said that R35 million of the R120 million construction project of the Department of Transport would be allocated to small contractors from the greater Athlone area. The greater Athlone area includes Langa, Hanover Park, Gugulethu, Manenberg, Bonteheuwel, Heideveld, Bokmakierrie and Q-Town.

The backyard dwellers from Heideveld, Hanover Park, Langa, Gugulethu, Bokmakierrie dominated the Imbizo with the same complains and questions. They were all complaining about their alleged neglect, having been in housing waiting lists for many years to no avail.

The poor structural conditions of council houses in Q-Town and Manenberg were condemned by residents, saying their houses are now in a state of dilapidation and in some cases, posing a health risk. The residents told the Imbizo that the filth and poor drainage systems in these areas were problems the City of Cape Town and its councillors are neglecting to address.

Hostel dwellers from Langa and Gugulethu urged the provincial government to speed up the process of converting hostel into family units and complained that they were not informed about reasons this project stalled. They said overcrowding in their hostels was unbearable.

MEC Dyantyi informed the Imbizo that 236 housing units have been approved for Q-Town for this financial year and he will impress upon his department to expedite the implementation of the construction. The process of converting hostels into decent family units is an ongoing process and people should exercise patience, said MEC Dyantyi. The plight of the disabled was also placed on the table with disabled people accusing the government of not being serious about their needs, in terms of suitable and user-friendly houses for the disabled, transport system not accommodative including trains.

MEC Dyantyi informed the gathering that his department was sensitive to the needs of the disabled and he challenged community leaders to forward names of disabled people in needs of housing because they have demonstrated sufficiently in the past how his department provides for their special needs.

Premier Rasool said the provincial government was taking the question of crime and drug abuse seriously and that is why cabinet has resolved to increase the rehabilitation centres to five, with new ones to be built in Beaufort West and the West Coast to ensure that victims are afforded opportunities to heal and be part of the broader society. He said that government is working hard to crush drug merchants.

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Issued by: Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports, Western Cape Provincial Government
11 April 2008