Studies show that roughly 48,000 people migrate to the Western Cape each year. This influx comes from the Eastern Cape and is largely due to widespread poverty and a lack of employment opportunities.
Because of limited housing and space however, Cape Town is not very suitable for habitation, but people have settled here to be near jobs in the northern industrial areas. Without electricity and proper space, people live in inadequate housing conditions, leading to problems such as poor sanitation and an increase in fires. Without electricity, people utilise paraffin for cooking and to light candles, but would fall asleep without switching off the gas.
This carelessness would lead to house fires and would cause families who are already living under difficult conditions to now be homeless.
To provide safer living conditions, the government has begun building RDP houses. Though demand is high, those on the waiting list at least have electricity. Due to government efforts, people in places like Langa, Philippi, and Khayelitsha are very proud to have the best houses constructed by the government.
This development not only focuses within the housing sector, but also attends to disadvantage schools, such as Kwa-Faku primary school in Lower Crossroads. I was proud to hear that most of these schools are receiving free uniforms, as well. These efforts really show that the government is taking direct measures to support the housing and education sectors of the Western Cape.
References:
http://www.elementalafrica.org.za/index.php?include=projects.html
http://antieviction.org.za/2008/12/20/baby-from-cape-towns-worst-squatter-camp-treated-for-cholera/ that our government is trying its best to support all South Africans.
