Cape Town - Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale has called on South Africans to harness the same energy that went into the build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup to "turn South Africa into one large construction site for human settlements developments".
He made the call during his Budget Vote speech in Parliament on Wednesday, labeling the initiative "Human Settlements 2030".
Sexwale - who is a FIFA representative on the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 World Cup - said questions had already been asked about what would propel the South African economy beyond the global tournament.
"Undoubtedly, the World Cup will be a resounding success. South Africa has constructed massive highways, iconic stadiums, world-class airports and state-of-the-art technology platforms," he said.
"The target for Human Settlements ought to be nothing less than an enhanced vision, driven by a similar energy and passion to World Cup 2010 - this time round, Human Settlements 2030."
Sexwale said it was important for South Africans to think creatively about large-scale human settlements as "the 'stadiums', 'airports' and 'highways' of our people".
"To that end, we must explore the possibility of marshalling resources in a similar fashion to the way we impressed the world with preparations for the World Cup.
"Many of our people, who still live in depressed conditions, should also be impressed."
He stressed that the mobilization of human, capital, financial, logistical, construction and project management resources should not dissipate after the final World Cup whistle.
"The potential exists for the whole country to be turned into one large construction site as we build sustainable human settlements in various localities," he said.
(Source: Department of Human Settlements)
