Address by H.E. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Deputy President of
the Republic of South Africa at the Albert Luthuli Housing Project, Chief Luthuli
Sports Field, Gauteng, 22 July 2007 Salutations
Programme director, Minister
of Housing, Ms. Lindiwe Sisulu, Premier of Gauteng, Mr. Mbhazima Shilowa
MPLs, MPs, Mayors, ABSA Management, Family of Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Distinguished
guests, Ladies and gentlemen. Introduction Today, we remember
the 40th anniversary of the passing of a great leader, Inkosi Albert Luthuli,
who stood for human rights and freedom for all. Inkosi Albert Luthuli is
the greatest son of Africa. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1945.
In 1952 Chief Luthuli was one of the leading lights behind the Defiance Campaign
- a non-violent protest against the pass laws. The Apartheid government was, unsurprisingly,
annoyed and he was summoned to Pretoria to answer for his actions. Luthuli was
given the choice of renouncing his membership of the ANC or being removed from
his position as tribal chief (The post was supported and paid for by the government).
Albert Luthuli refused to resign from the ANC, issued a statement to the press
("The road to Freedom is via the Cross") which reaffirmed his support
for passive resistance to Apartheid, and was subsequently dismissed from his chieftaincy
in November. "I have joined my people in the new spirit that moves
them today. The spirit that revolts openly and broadly against injustice." At
the end of 1952 Albert Luthuli was elected president-genera of the ANC. In 1961Chief
Albert Luthuli was awarded the 1960 Nobel Prize for Peace (it had been held over
that year) for his part in the ant-Apartheid struggle This Housing Project,
named after him, symbolises his solidarity with the poor and marginalised. Today
the community of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council, and in deed the whole of South
Africa is adding to the list of those who recognized his contribution to the struggle
for freedom, his love for humanity. He always had a dream for our land;
he wanted nothing but the best. When he was conferred with a Nobel Peace
Prize in 1961. The "true patriots of South will be satisfied with nothing
less than the fullest democratic rights". I am sure his spirit lies amongst
us celebrating our democracy. Meaning of the Housing Project Today
also marks an important day in the building of sustainable human settlements,
which contribute to our struggle for a better life. We have built this mixed housing
project to respond to the needs of our people and to enhance their comfort. I,
therefore, take this opportunity to say siyabonga to the Gauteng Department of
Housing, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and ABSA Bank. You are all
commended in your quest for innovation in terms of excellent service delivery.
I also want to commend the housing department's continued innovative spirit in
the quest of improving housing delivery in South Africa. The Gauteng Department
of Housing has to date established 13 mixed housing projects, which steadily ensures
that we undo the Apartheid's legacy and encourage social cohesion. This
Housing Project will provide quality and affordable homes to people who most need
hope and a sense of dignity. Breaking New Ground Policy Ladies
and gentlemen, this democratic government is committed to building sustainable
human settlements as defined in the comprehensive Breaking New Ground Policy.
The objectives of this Policy are mainly to: - create integrated communities;
- do
away with an apartheid system of spatial planning based on race and wealth;
- bring
housing settlements closer to places of work; and
- thus lessen financial
spending on transport.
There are other benefits and advantages to
this sort of mixed income housing development. - creates opportunities
for the poor to be integrated into the mainstream of housing market; and
- cross-subsidization
of basic services and savings on infrastructure development.
This
Policy falls in line with government's Program of Action (PoA) to strive and work
for the attainment of 'a better life for all'. Second economy intervention The
poorest of the poor rely on government to deliver on their aspirations. We recognise,
as government, that we have to move faster to address challenges of poverty eradication
and second economy interventions. We also acknowledge that not everyone who is
benefiting from projects such as the one we are launching today is financially
well-off. It is for this reason the Albert Luthuli Housing Project is important
in deepening and broadening housing to the lower and middle income groupings.
Moreover, this is in line with our pledge to Target 11 of the United Nations
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Seven that aims at improving the living conditions
of at least 100 million people by the year 2020. To this end, I am sure
you will agree with me that this Housing Project forms part of our efforts to
eradicate the housing backlog and contributes towards enhancing economic development.
To date, government has built 2.4 million houses in the last 12 years providing
a roof over eight million people. This is no small achievement by any known standard!
However, we are committed to ensuring that we meet the MDGs and provide even more
South Africans with a roof over their heads. Public-private partnerships
(PPP) An important and critical milestone in the delivery of mixed tenure
housing by the private sector and exemplifies the capability of public private
partnerships. The development of affordable housing is a priority of the
Social Contract between government, civil society and business. A Social
Contract, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Financial Sector Charter (FSC)
between government and business refer to a supply of credit to the lower income
groups. It refers to provision of sustainable funds and subsidies to the marginalised
who would otherwise not have access to housing finance. We welcome the
commitment of R24 billion by 2008 made by the 4 main banks to finance the low-income
market. This is sure to accelerate housing delivery. That achieved will truly
be one of the best contributions towards shared growth. Without private sectors'
contribution towards those who experience economic exclusion there is no shared
growth. As long as the poor workers live far from their places of work,
spend more time and greater portions of their meagre wages on transport. Yet the
rich spend less money on transport as they generally live closer to their places
of employment. We will have growing inequalities and not shared growth. That is
not the vision of Albert Luthuli. Conclusion An integrated
housing and human settlement programme provides relief and hope to our people.
It marks a significant effort at building sustainable communities. In honour
of the man after whom this Housing Project is named, Inkosi Albert Luthuli, let
us recall what he said about the poor and marginalised: "In economic matters
(they) will be satisfied with nothing less than equality of opportunity in every
sphere. To compromise would be treacherous to democracy" We are not there
yet we need a national consensus a shared dream to achieve the vision of Inkosi
Luthuli. I believe we can and must not look back. We have a worked hard to create
an enabling environment I thank you.
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