Hon Deputy Chairperson, we are aware of the challenges in the North West, particularly those areas that the member is talking about. We are in the process of engaging with the MEC. The matter is before the Department of Human Settlements and the technical team, the head of department in the province and the Director- General of Human Settlements. We are dealing with the matter because we want to address those issues.
We understand the challenges regarding the issue of the developer who was assigned to build those houses. Some of the houses are now in a dire state and being demolished. But we have seized the issue, and we are dealing with it to resolve the challenges in both areas that the member talked about.
Action taken to ensure eradication of alien and invasive vegetation and carrying out of programme in Tintwa area of Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal
39. Mr R A Lees (DA) asked the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether any action has been taken to ensure that alien and invasive vegetation like wattle, which is the target of the Working for Water programme, is fully eradicated in a target area/portion of land before the project is closed and handed over to the landowner; if not, why not; if so, what action;
(2) whether the landowners in the Tintwa area of the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal, near Ladysmith, are allowing the programme to be carried out on their land; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? CO249E