WATCH: WC Human Settlements Department creates video series on building skills and causes a stir
Many people have mixed views about this project, considering most residents living in human settlements don't have access to basic necessities, let alone the internet...
As South Africans, we are used to seeing the life of informal settlements in almost every area that we drive through. And instead of complaining and finding excuses, it seems that the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has decided to make a very bold move in addressing the housing backlog.
The Western Cape Department of Human Settlement has taken a progressive approach when it comes to addressing the informal settlements, and let's just say many people don't see the good in it, but rather have found fault in a government initiative they feel is failing the people.
"The Better Living Challenge is is one of the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) projects, proudly hosted by the Department of Human Settlements and the Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism. The project aims to assist residents with self-build skills and knowledge.
This knowledge can then be used to build improved structures within informal settlements." (Western Cape Govt)
Yes, it's a shift to expect everyone to be on board with such a bold project because it has some hidden meaning between the lines. Some people turned to social media to express their disappointment in the project, saying that it basically encouraged the longevity of informal settlements.
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One person said: "Instead of a “better living challenge” why don’t you make efforts to provide humane living space for our fellow South Africans. How can you believe that this is something people should be content with? Something that people should aspire to? Sad." (Kameel Anirood)
To which he WC Govt responded: "Hi Kameel. It’s important to note that this initiative was put together based on the feedback and input from people living in informal settlements. While the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has many projects that provide housing opportunities to residents across the province, the housing backlog remains significant with budgets continuing to be constrained, and so it is important to provide residents with information on how they can build safe structures, that will improve their living conditions. The initiative is in no way intended to encourage the establishment of informal areas, but to assist residents, often living in unsafe conditions to improve the quality of their homes, that will also improve their living conditions. Residents living in formal areas may not necessarily understand the everyday challenges of living in an informal area."
All in all, we think that the response from the public is warranted. The least we can do though is appreciate the fact that research "was" conducted to find out what the best ways to deal with the abundance of informal living that is drowning our country.
Many people just want to be heard, acknowledged and if that's what the Western Cape Government is doing then good for them. It's a good way to show that change is coming, no matter the form. Although at face value it looks like an unreasonable way of dealing with a major issue, housing, it is nevertheless some sort of action which is better than none.
Image Courtesy of Facebook