HOUSE SENSE BEGINS AT HOME

I agree entirely with the bottom line of your 11 July editorial: “SA MUST GET SERIOUS ABOUT HOUSING!”

There is a huge shortage of housing in our country; approximately 2.2 million families still live in unacceptable conditions.

South Africa desperately requires all of us to get serious about housing. We are making notable strides in this direction with the banks. ABSA has already signed a partnership agreement with the Department of Housing, and FNB is contributing about R1 billion to the national N2 Gateway Pilot Project in Cape Town.

If Morning Live can help us build further momentum, the producers and presenters must be congratulated and supported.

Over the past 13 years, Government has provided 2.4 million free homes to poor South Africans. This is a massive number of houses, in the face of a massive challenge. Only China and India have managed more in this period.

We know that our people are becoming increasingly desperate for houses. Next week we begin an experiment in Cape Town to accelerate delivery by building around-the-clock – as China does.

South Africa must get serious about housing, and we can use all the help we can get. The Daily Sun is invited to pitch in and help.

Lindiwe Sisulu, MP

Minister of Housing

Published by DAILY SUN on July 17, 2007.