MEDIA ALERT

HOUSING MINISTER LINDIWE SISULU LEADS DELEGATION TO THE WORLD HABITAT DAY CONFERENCE, THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, 01-02 OCTOBER 2007.

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The National Minister of Housing in South Africa, Lindiwe Sisulu, will lead a delegation of top Government officials to the World Habitat Day conference in The Hague, Netherlands on 01-02 October 2007. The Minister will present a keynote address looking into Housing strategies and instruments in relation to safe and just cities.

Under the theme “A safe city is a just city”, the conference will focus on housing and human settlement issues to highlight various urban problems, from squalid living conditions in the slums to homelessness of refugees in post conflict areas and the high crime and violence rates in many cities.

In exploring this theme, the conference will also look into the role of housing in creating safer cities and communities, how local government can support reconstruction and peace building in post conflict situations and how restitution of land, houses and properties to returning refugees can be used as a tool for reconstruction.   

With more than 2.4 Million houses built in South Africa since 1994 and a target to eradicate informal settlements by 2014, the United Nation Agency (UNHABITAT) invited the South African Government to share its successes and challenges with delegates from across the world.  Members of the media can access speeches and media documents about the Conference on www.housing.gov.za or www.unhabitat.org/ .   

Issued by: Monwabisi Maclean: Chief Director:  Communication Services

For more information please contact: Ndivhuwo Mabaya on 083 645 7838 or 012 421 1515 or ndivhuwo@housing.gov.za.

Date: 25 September 2007