Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala, joined by the Deputy Minister in Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli and the Western Cape Provincial Government, the City of Cape Town and relevant stakeholders, concluded a successful government intervention programme in ensuring that the families of the Siyahlala, Zulwini and Ekuphumuleni in the Du Noon informal settlement, City of Cape Town who were displaced by the recent fire disasters on 18 December 2024 and Christmas Eve received the necessary government interventions to assist them to rebuild their homes and reunite with their families before the new years.

In line with the National Department of Human Settlement’s Emergency Housing Guidelines, Minister Simelane deployed teams to the various informal settlements affected by the fires to do beneficiary verifications and provide detailed reports of affected households before sending in the materials for people to rebuild their structures.

Today, the teams working under the leadership of the Ministry of Human Settlements and the MMC responsible for Human Settlements in the City of Cape Town, and Emergency Housing Officials handed over more than 290 fire kits to affected households, with Du Noon receiving about 188 in the three different settlements, 59 by Wag 'n Bitjie informal settlement in Nomzamo, Strand, 44 in Kosovo and tomorrow morning the team will be in Masiphumelele to handover to the 87 households affected by the fire disasters recently.

Minister Simelane and Deputy Minister Mahambehlala have made a clarion call to communities to work together with government in ensuring that fire disasters are prevented and mitigated before they occur.

The team (Emergency Housing Officials), working together with the City of Cape Town, is currently concluding an assessment of over 500 reported shacks to have being affected by the recent fires in Langa township, a similar government intervention led by the Department of Human Settlements and its Stakeholders to assist the displaced communities will also take place in these affected areas.

“I want to urge our communities to work together with all spheres of government in line with the spirit of the District Development Model, and in its efforts of finding a suitable and habitable human settlements away from municipal servitudes, flood-prone and areas susceptible to fire disasters”, remarked Minister Simelane.

Media Enquiries: Tsekiso Machike, Spokesperson to the Minister on 078 237 3900 / Tsekiso.Machike@dhs.gov.za or DHS Acting Head of Communications Mandulo Maphumulo on 082 099 7699 / Mandulo.Maphumulo@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements of the Republic of South Africa, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala will engage with informal settlements dwellers affected by the recent fire disaster in the City of Cape Town and assess progress being made with regards to the provisions of the emergency housing guidelines i.e. rebuild, relocation, restoration and repairs.

Their programme will include a visit to the Wag ‘n Bitjie informal settlement, Nomzamo in Strand where a 30-year-old man lost his life due to smoke inhalation whilst they battled a fire that left more than 200 people displaced on the morning of Christmas eve – 24/12/2024.

Details are as follows:
Date: 30 December 2024
Venue A: Dunoon Informal Settlements

Time: 15:00 hrs

Venue B: Wag ‘n Bitjie (Behind iKhwezi Clinic), Nomzamo, Strand

Time: 16:00 hrs

*Media Enquiries: Tsekiso Machike, Spokesperson to the Minister on 078 237 3900 / Tsekiso.Machike@dhs.gov.za or DHS Acting Head of Communications Mandulo Maphumulo on 082 099 7699 / Mandulo.Maphumulo@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements of the Republic of South Africa, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala will engage with informal settlements dwellers affected by the recent fire disaster in the City of Cape Town and assess progress being made with regards to the provisions of the emergency housing guidelines i.e. rebuild, relocation, restoration and repairs.

Their programme will include a visit to the Wag ‘n Bitjie informal settlement, Nomzamo in Strand where a 30-year-old man lost his life due to smoke inhalation whilst they battled a fire that left more than 200 people displaced on the morning of Christmas eve – 24/12/2024.

Details are as follows:

Venue A: Dunoon Informal Settlements

Time: 15:00 hrs

Venue B: Wag ‘n Bitjie (Behind iKhwezi Clinic), Nomzamo, Strand

Time: 16:00 hrs

*Media Enquiries: Tsekiso Machike, Spokesperson to the Minister on 078 237 3900 / Tsekiso.Machike@dhs.gov.za or DHS Acting Head of Communications Mandulo Maphumulo on 082 099 7699 / Mandulo.Maphumulo@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements of the Republic of South Africa, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria

END*

The Minister of Human Settlements, Ms. Thembi Simelane notes and welcome the Constitutional Court judgment which declared the implementation of the National Housing Programme by the City of Cape Town unconstitutional. 

The Department is currently studying the judgment and unwaveringly commits itself to working together with the Department of Human Settlements in the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town to uphold the rule of law and its Constitutional mandate of housing the nation consistent with the Housing Act 107 of 1997. 

For media Enquiries, contact: Tsekiso Machike, Spokesperson to the Minister on 078 237 3900 or DHS Head of Communications Nozipho Zulu on 078 457 9376 / Nozipho.zulu@dhs.gov.za

 Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria

Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi will hand over Breaking New Ground (BNG) houses to vulnerable groups as part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, taking place from November 25 to December 10, 2024.

Minister Kubayi has pledged to hand over 16 houses throughout the 16-day period, demonstrating the department's commitment to supporting victims and survivors of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

The house handovers mark a significant initiative to support the campaign.

The first set of houses will be handed over in Ekurhuleni on Monday, 25 November 2024, at the Helderwyk Housing project, where Minister Kubayi will be joined by Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Tasneem Motara and Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.

By providing safe housing, the goal is to reduce survivors' reliance on their abusive partners, promoting independence and dignity. It also aims to accelerate collective action and whole-of-society accountability to end violence against women and children.

Empowering women economically is also crucial in the fight against GBVF and a safe and secure home, serves as a foundation for individuals to build their lives and become productive members of society.

Minister Kubayi believes that when women are economically resilient, they gain the freedom to leave harmful situations, take control of their lives, and create a better future for themselves and their children.

This year's Campaign, themed: "30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children", builds upon previous efforts to tackle the root causes of GBVF, fostering a culture of positive masculinity, gender equity, and economic empowerment for women and children.

During the Campaign, the Department aims to raise awareness and highlight practical efforts to reduce the vulnerability of women affected by GBVF by providing safe shelter.

Accordingly, the Department has developed the Special Housing Needs Policy to assist victims of GBVF.

To further demonstrate the commitment to supporting vulnerable groups, the Department has produced an awareness advertisement highlighting interventions to address GBVF.

This advert will launch on Monday, 25 November 2024, marking the beginning of the Campaign and will be aired on SABC TV platforms, ensuring widespread reach and visibility.

Ekurhuleni hand over Media details are as follows:

Date : Monday, 25 November 2024 Time : 09h00 (Media to arrive at 8h30) Venue : Helderwyk, Housing project, EKurhuleni RSVPs : Tebogo.mosima@dhs.gov.za or 072 171 1021

The Minister will also handover houses as follows:

Gauteng Province Date : Monday, 09 December 2024 Time : 09h00 (Media to arrive at 8h30) Venue : Riverside Social Housing Project, Gauteng Date : Tuesday, 10 December 2024 Time : 09h00 (Media to arrive at 8h30) Venue : Soweto, Gauteng NB : The Minister together with Human Settlements Staff to build a house in Soweto

Eastern Cape Province Date : Thursday, 29 November 2024 Time : 09h00 (media to arrive at 8h30) Venue : Ngcobo, Dr AB Xuma municipality in the Chris Hani District Limpopo province Date : Saturday, 07 December 2024 Time : 09h00 (media to arrive at 8h30) Venue : Matiane Village, Malamulele local municipality, Vhembe District For media Enquiries, contact: Terrence Manase, Spokesperson to the Minister on 082 338 6707 I Terrence.manase@dhs.gov.za or DHS Head of Communications Nozipho Zulu on 078 457 9376 I Nozipho.zulu@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria

The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Tandi Mahambehlala, will join the Limpopo MEC for Social Development, Florence Radzilani, tomorrow, 24 November 2024, to outline government programmes for persons with disabilities.

A meeting between the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi and MECs of Human Settlements recently resolved to prioritise the delivery of houses for vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities.

Accordingly, the Deputy Minister is expected to engage with community members about departmental plans and programmes to ensure that persons with disabilities have decent shelter over their heads.

Details are as follows:

Date: Tomorrow, 24 November 2024 Time: 13h00 Venue: Regorogile Community Hall, Northam Ext 2, Thabazimbi, Limpopo For media Enquiries, contact: Thembani Makata on 082 059 3173 Thembani.makata@dhs.gov.za or DHS Head of Communications Nozipho Zulu on 078 457 9376 I Nozipho.zulu@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria

Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi will deliver the keynote address and confer awards at the 17th South African Construction Awards (SACA) on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, at the Emperors Palace.

This marks the department's first participation in the awards to celebrate achievements, innovation, and contributions of the construction industry in the country. The awards aim to commemorate 30 years of partnership between government and the construction industry to provide decent shelter.

They also seek to highlight challenges and potential solutions for building a construction sector reflective of a democratic South Africa. The department has made significant contributions to the country's economic opportunities and job creation through its housing delivery efforts.

The government has invested heavily in housing since 1994, resulting in improved household life quality and restored dignity for many.

Media details:

*Date :* Wednesday, 27 November 2024 *Time :* 18h00 (Media to arrive at 17h00) *Venue :* Emperor’s Palace, Gauteng

*RSVP:* Members of the media interested in covering the event should RSVP with Musa Aphane, Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator for the South African Construction Awards: Contact: 081 530 3054 / musa@afribizinvest.com

*For media Enquiries, contact:* Terrence Manase, Spokesperson to the Minister on 082 338 6707 I Terrence.manase@dhs.gov.za or DHS Head of Communications Nozipho Zulu on 078 457 9376 I Nozipho.zulu@dhs.gov.za

*Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria*

The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Tandi Mahambehlala, and Deputy Mayor of Oudtshoorn Local Municipality Cllr Mziwoxolo Tyatya will tomorrow, 27 November 2024 convene an Imbizo with Oudtshoorn community members to outline government plans and programmes to provide housing for the qualifying beneficiaries.

Deputy Minister’s Imbizo is in response to the municipality's request to the department seeking intervention to deal with housing challenges, particularly in rural areas. Accordingly, the Deputy Minister is expected to update the community about the department’s plans in response to disasters. The Deputy Minister will also conduct site inspections of some human settlements in the area.

Details are as follows:

Date: Tomorrow, 27 November 2024 Time: 09h00 Venue: Dysselsdorp Stadium, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

For media Enquiries, contact: Thembani Makata on 082 059 3173 Thembani.makata@dhs.gov.za or DHS Head of Communications Nozipho Zulu on 078 457 9376 I Nozipho.zulu@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria