Simelane: Informal settlement upgrades ‘urgent priority’
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has renewed calls for the urgent upgrading of informal settlements.
The minister’s call follows a devastating fire that claimed six lives in the Marikana informal settlement in KwaThema, Boksburg, during the early hours of Monday morning.
According to the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services, a shack caught fire and quickly spread through several structures.
Among the victims were six members of a single family. A seven-year-old girl survived the blaze but sustained severe burn injuries and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
In response to the tragedy, Simelane said the incident highlights the pressing need to accelerate infrastructure upgrades and finish long-delayed housing developments across the country.
“The unfortunate incidents in our informal settlements are a clear sign that we should accelerate and invest in the upgrading of informal settlements and commit to finishing all the stalled projects around the country. This will enable qualifying beneficiaries to have access to decent shelter, prevent loss of life and improve the quality of household life,” said Simelane.
Earlier this year, the minister announced that the Department of Human Settlements had committed to completing 271 blocked projects and nine distressed social housing projects that have stalled due to financial and logistical challenges.
Simelane further stressed the need for collaboration between all stakeholders, including government departments at all levels, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and local communities, to address the systemic issues facing informal settlements.
The department has since deployed its Emergency Housing Unit — responsible for disaster response — to coordinate with the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the City of Ekurhuleni to assist the affected family and community.
The tragedy comes as the department embarks on a nationwide plan to upgrade over 4,000 informal settlements during the 2024–2029 Medium Term Development Plan to ensure safer, more dignified living conditions for millions of South Africans.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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