Note to editors: Below is an extract of a speech prepared for delivery this morning at the Kya sands informal settlement in Johannesburg
Fellow South Africans,
I am here today because I have heard about the living conditions in this informal settlement. And I have heard that things would be much worse here if it wasn't for the dedication of your ward councillor, John Mendlesohn.
It was John that took the City of Johannesburg to the Human Rights Commission for failing to deliver basic services and housing in the community. You will remember that, at this time, you had no lighting, one communal tap was shared by 2000 shacks and the only sanitation was the pit latrines that you had to dig yourselves.
It was only when the Commission ruled that against the City that it provided more taps, better sanitation, mast lighting and daily refuse removal.
Since then, John has been fighting for your rights to get proper housing. Despite Mayor Masondo's promise of 12,000 new houses to be built on 19-20 Nietgedacht over two years ago, nothing has happened. The reason is that the money for bulk infrastructure was simply not allocated in the City's budget. He has now taken the matter up with the national Minister for Human Settlements, Tokyo Sexwale. John will not rest until you have the housing you deserve.