CAPE TOWN - Over half a million people in the Western Cape have indicated a need for housing, a figure activists say is an under-representation as many had lost hope in the system.
The provincial Department of Human Settlements said there were currently about 568 000 residents on the Western Cape Housing Demand Database who have expressed a need to be assisted by the state “for a housing opportunity”.
Department spokesperson Nathan Adriaanse said: “The department has 139 projects across the province. These projects are at various stages ie planning, implementation, completion and are being rolled out over a number of financial years.”
The City said it had about 347 000 registered applicants on its Housing Needs Register.
Mayco member for Human Settlements, Malusi Booi said: “Cape Town’s draft Budget for 2022/23 allocates R2.8 billion for capital expenditure on housing over the following three years, including for informal settlements upgrades, Breaking New Ground (BNG) projects, support for backyard dwellers, and social housing.
“We recommend that you register and apply with us before doing anything else. Once you are on our Housing Needs Register, we can help you find something suitable to your needs, depending on what kind of housing is available, and when.”
Bevil Lucas from housing activist group, Reclaim the City, said the figures were very likely under-represented.
“It’s probably only a reflection of those who have chosen to come forward and have hope in the database. For a bigger majority who have completely lost hope in the system, it may in all likelihood be a far bigger number. Bear in mind, we also have a backlog that stems from the apartheid government.
“Yesterday I did a random check-in in at the Cissie Gool House Woodstock occupation where we have more than a thousand people living and within half an hour, there were people coming forward saying they had been on the waiting list for 15 years, 29 years, it is a situation of dire crisis that rests in the political approach to deal with the crisis. The City had a Housing Indaba, beneficiaries who should have participated were not invited. There is no socialisation of the housing need, that is where the crisis rests,” he said.
The Provincial Department of Human Settlements, said its help desk was operational Monday through to Friday operating from 7.30am until 3pm at (021) 483 6488 / 483 0611 / 483 8984 / 483 483 3112 or Human [email protected].
The City said more information about its Housing Needs register could be found at 021 444 0333, WhatsApp: 063 299 9927 or email [email protected].
Cape Times