A bitter pill to swallow

Republic facing emergence of shanty towns daily.

- THABISO MTHEMBU

The provision of adequate and affordable housing in South Africa still remains a challenge and serves as a direct daily confrontation on how unequal as a country we are, even post-apartheid.

Following Minister of Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi's media briefing on Monday, we were once more reminded of a bitter pill that, as South Africans, we have to swallow.

For in a country that prides itself on access to shelter as a democratic right through a constitutional provision, we are still miles away from making that a lived reality.

The republic is facing the emergence of shanty towns almost on a daily from across townships, ranging from Mamelodi in Pretoria down to Khayelitsha in Cape Town. And this cannot be a situation deemed normal.

In a country on a mission to redress the injustices of the past, lack of housing should not be a thing, especially the lack of access to affordable housing.

With home loan rejections averaging at a rate of 68%, this must tell us there is something wrong which requires intervention from the government.