Safety and Security and Human Settlements Portfolio Committees visit Masiphumelele

09 June 2022

The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security and Human Settlements Portfolio Committees (PC) visited Masphumelele yesterday to look over the progress made in the area’s re-blocking.

‘Yesterday’s visit was about more than just following on the progress being made. The Safety and Security PC decided to visit the area against the backdrop of reports that some communities are damaging fire hoses during operations and shack farmers build informal homes on top of our fire hydrants. This would negate the progress and success of the re-blocking.

‘Our visit yesterday cemented the need for us to develop innovative solutions to curb shack fires, but also consider how we rebuild after such an event. Our interventions need to be supported by the strict enforcement of engineering principles and rules of design. In addition, we need to secure access for service vehicles, emergency trucks, ambulances and fire hydrants,’ said Chairperson of the City’s Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, Councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe.

The committees were accompanied by officials and community leaders.

‘As the safety & security committee, we urge community to work with both our Fire & Rescue Service and Disaster Risk Management when they are conducting education programmes in these informal settlements. We also condemn the notion of cutting our water pipes to divert fire extinguishing operations to their individual shacks, that is unlawful,  incorrect and undermines our efforts of trying to stop the main blaze from spreading and affecting many households,’ added Councillor Nqavashe.

‘Our oversight visit to the area also intended to take a closer look at the services we are providing to Masiphumele and to see where improvements can be made.

‘Officials in the City’s Informal Settlements Management Department are on the ground daily to look at the needs of residents and to check on progress being made on current projects.

‘The City allocated approximately R2,8 billion for the City’s Human Settlements Directorate over three years, according to the 2022/23 Budget.

‘The allocation includes work on informal settlements upgrades and the enhancement of basic services, public housing maintenance, Breaking New Ground (BNG) housing and hostel transformation projects across the metro.

‘The Human Settlements Portfolio Committee will continue to engage with the Human Settlements Directorate and the Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi, to look at additional ways to assist residents and to help drive awareness about fire safety in particular as well as general health and safety matters,’ said the Portfolio Committee Chairperson for Human Settlements, Councillor Anda Ntsodo.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office