JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS

Note to editors: This statement is to be read in conjunction with the statement issued by the Department of Defence today on an unauthorised statement issued by an official. That statement can be found here.

Ministers Lindiwe Sisulu and Tokyo Sexwale are surprised and taken aback at complete misinterpretations of the state of their working relationship, and have vowed not to let distortions drive them apart.

There is a long-established relationship between Ministers Sexwale and Sisulu They are members of one organisation, and have a long history of serving on structures together, far beyond the borders of South Africa.

They continue to serve together in structures of the ANC and Government today, as part of a united front in government's programme to provide a better life for all, in a secure South Africa.

The two Ministers also have in common the fact that one presently serves as Minister of Human Settlements while the other was the former Minister of Housing under whose leadership the Breaking New Ground human settlements policy was developed.

It is a matter of public record that many of the programmes established by former Minister of Housing Sisulu - including rectification and anti-corruption programmes - have been embraced and invigorated by the Human Settlements Ministry. These include the appointment of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), whose mandate has been broadened by Minister Sexwale as part of his national audit on problems affecting housing service delivery.

In this way there is continuity in programmes addressing the plight of the poor.  Projects established under Minister Sisulu are embedded in the programme of government, and Minister Sexwale has been ramping them up to a new level.

The Ministers have great respect for each other and continuously engage each other in a robust and direct way on issues of governance and other matters.

Statement issued by Chris Vick, Special Advisor to Minister Tokyo Sexwale, and Siphiwe Dlamini, Head of Commmunication for the Department of Defence, November 28 2009

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