East London - Eastern Cape Economic Development MEC Mcebisi Jonas says social housing projects are an integral part of government's quest to enhance racial integration.
Speaking at the official launch of the Southernwood Social Housing Project in East London on Tuesday, Jonas said the projects were a good opportunity to achieve greater racial integration.
"Social housing projects are one of the very few vehicles we have of ensuring social stability through racial and social integration. These projects are fundamental because they are situated in the city centres and cater for people from all walks of life," said Jonas.
He also said the projects were very important in dealing with the ever-growing number of people flocking to the urban areas to look for work and to study.
He said the accelerated rate of urbanisation was a "ticking time bomb" which needed urgent attention from the Human Settlements Department.
Residential executive committee member Lungisa Nazo, who has been a tenant at the project for two years, supported Jonas's efforts for racial integration, even though she said racism wasn't an issue at the residence because most of the tenants were black.
"We co-exist well with all other races, which is why I love living here. Even when we were drawing up our grievances to hand over to the minister's team, people from all races participated for the ultimate benefit of the tenants," said Nazo.
Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale said the social housing projects' ultimate goal was to, amongst other things, create non-racial cities and towns across the country.
"We want to 'deracialise' our cities and towns so we can see all races in this country co-existing harmoniously. Integration mustn't be limited only to rugby games and other big sporting events, but it must be a way of life" said Sexwale.
Social Housing Regulatory Authority chairperson Zora Ebrahim said she hoped the project would be the start of the "cleansing of Southernwood and the inner-city", which has suffered from overpopulation and infrastructural dilapidation in recent years.
"We hope this project will create a trend that will see urban decay being dealt with both by residents and the municipality. We hope it will ultimately lead to social cohesion amongst the community within which people can learn, play and pray," said Ebrahim.
Sexwale used the occasion to take a swipe at people involved in the hiring out of RDP houses.
"People must stop doing this because it is taking away opportunities for those who genuinely deserve houses. Moving forward, we must reclaim the land which is currently being occupied illegally through shack renting," said Sexwale.
He assured those present that the department would not "just provide the money anymore", but would "follow the money" and see how it was spent, as it was government's duty to account for taxpayers' money.
Southern Square Social Housing project includes a nine-storey building at the centre of the CBD consisting of 249 units and is close to all socio-economic amenities. There are 57 bachelor flats, 78 one bedroom flats and 114 two bedroom flats.
The project caters for households earning between R2 500 to R7 500 per month.
