Townships also deserve the best

03 October 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

People are coming back to live in the townships because there have been improvements in the quality of life.

People are coming back to live in the townships because there have been improvements in the quality of life.

We, in the DA, welcome this.

There is a great deal of traction in the township property market.

We also uphold the right of individual ownership, irrespective of race.

But we also believe in building communities, not only houses. The way to do this is to create a safe, stable and clean environment.

Housing in townships should also be accompanied by the full range of basic services such as schools, clinics, transport and work opportunities.

People in the townships also deserve good, decent housing, not inferior houses or the so-called low-cost housing next to our townships.

Let us create sustainable, affordable and safe housing opportunities for the city's indigent and homeless people. This will sustain the property-transaction peak in years to come.

I hope the municipalities will maintain and upgrade the infrastructure so that the market value of the houses will increase.

There must also be sustainable township services. These services also demand maintenance and servicing of essential infrastructure.

Councillor Tsepo Mhlongo Johannesburg