Xolani Koyana
LAND appropriation was the centre of a debate at the provincial legislature yesterday with opposition parties slamming the DA’s policies.
The debate comes days after ANC provincial chairman Marius Fransman claimed the DA-led provincial government was withholding vacant land worth about R50 billion.
In an interview with the Cape Times, Fransman said 15 000 low-cost housing units could be built on vacant land in Goodwood, Parow and Woodstock. He said the ANC regime had started a project to accommodate 5 000 on land between Constantia and Tokai but this was shelved when the DA took office in 2009.
At the legislature yesterday, Cope provincial leader Mbulelo Ncedana said the province had failed to appropriate land for the poor.
ANC MPL Khaya Magaxa said the province’s failure had forced people to invade land. He said it
and the City of Cape Town were dragging their feet in purchasing private land occupied by squatters to avoid having to provide services.
In response, Public Works MEC Robin Carlisle said the province was releasing 141 hectares of land in Stikland, and 62ha in Ottery to the Department of Human Settlements. More land had been made available in Goodwood and Parow, Carlisle said. His department would also transfer 5ha of open land in Constantia to the land claims commissioner at no cost to compensate 108 claimants.
Carlisle told the Cape Times the province did not have land worth R50bn and denied cancelling the project Fransman had referred to.
xolani.koyana@inl.co.za
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