25 February 2005

The government has injected R2-billion into its new comprehensive housing strategy this financial year.

Tabling his Budget in Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said the new strategy aimed to replace and upgrade all informal settlements in the country by 2014.

An estimated 1.4-million households are currently housed in informal settlements around the country.

Work began in February on a pilot of the new housing plan, themulti-million rand N2 Gateway Project, that will benefit over 100 000 people who squat along the highway leading from Cape Town International Airport into the Mother City.

"We cannot in good conscience build dormitory suburbs characterised by neglect, settlements that have no sports facilities, entertainment, business opportunities, social or policing infrastructure", Manuel said.

In strengthening the new plan, Manuel said the period ahead would see a shift towards investment in the development of sustainable residential communities.

The finance minster added that R1.7-billion had been set aside in the 2005/06 Budget for updgrading municipal and sanitation infrastructure.

Municipal allocations, through which free basic services and infrastructure investment for low-income communities are supported, also increased to a total of R5.4-billion.

Source: BuaNews

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