Welcome to the Breaking New Ground (BNG) newsletter of the Ministry of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. This newsletter will keep you informed about the support
given to communities in distress during Covid-19 lockdown.
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu has declared 136 Priority Human Settlements and Housing Development Areas (PHSHDAs) across the entire country. The intention is to ensure redress regarding the pre-1994 spatial plan, revitalising towns and cities and strengthening the livelihoods of households.
The Mamelodi hostels comprises an estimated population of 8000 people, mainly men who migrated to Tshwane during the Apartheid era to seek greener pastures. The dormitory set up residential area was built by the then Apartheid government to house about 16 people in each. Not only is this condition unfavourable for living in but also poses a grave health risk for the residents during the Covid 19 pandemic due to overcrowding – Should there be an outbreak in the hostels the disease could spread easily and quickly.
This week, our country reached a sad moment in the progression of the coronavirus pandemic, as we recorded our 219th death from the disease.
Every life lost is a tragedy.
These 219 people who passed away had families, they had dependents, friends and colleagues.
Their lives were cut short by a virus that has caused human and economic devastation across the world.
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, will today, 08 May 2020 visit the residents of Plot 323 in Wilgespruit who have been living in tents to access progress made in the construction of their Temporary Residential Units.
