Statement issued by the Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu

11 September 2007

N2 GATEWAY PROPERTY WILL BE PROTECTED

I have instructed the Department of Housing to look at legal solutions to

clearing the land after yesterday’s violent protests by residents of the Joe

Slovo informal settlement.

We are convinced that we have done everything necessary to communicate our

policies and plans to residents.

Precisely because the N2 Gateway is a pilot project, we have bent over

backwards to ensure that we accommodated the challenges and problems we

encountered at every step.

Until now, no attempts have been made to force residents of the informal

settlement at Joe Slovo to move. Development processes were explained and

residents asked to move voluntarily to temporary accommodation in Delft.

We are now convinced that in order to protect property already constructed

at Joe Slovo - and to ensure the integrity of development process - we have

to seek legal intervention.

For more information please call Monwabisi Maclean on 082 882 2962.

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