Sisulu’s War of the Ages Begins

Richard Pithouse, The Con

In 2005, early in her in her first term as Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu announced that the state had resolved to ‘eradicate slums’ by 2014. This was a time when the technocratic ideal had more credibility than it does now and officials and politicians often spoke, with genuine conviction, as if it were an established fact that this aspiration would translate into reality. It was not unusual for people trying to engage the state around questions of urban land and housing to be rebuffed as troublemakers, either ignorant or malicious, on the grounds that it was an established fact that there would be no more shacks by 2014.

A curious case of … Deflection and prejudice

T.O. Molefe, City Press

Who would have thought the day would come when a minister in an ANC-led government would read from the opposition DA hymn book of the pathologies of black culture – and an old, seemingly discarded edition at that?

Well, that’s exactly what happened when Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu this week promised that no person younger than 40 would receive a free house during her time in charge of human settlements.

Poor-bashing is the new slut-shaming: Zuma, Sisulu & the lazy nation

Sisonke Msimang, The Daily Maverick

I don't know of a country that gives free houses to young people. Free housing in a few years will be something of the past. (Young people) have lost nothing (to Apartheid). If it is not clear - none of you (young people) are ever going to get a house free from me while I live. - Lindiwe Sisulu If I am wrong, come and tell me which country did as we did. Once we were free we said our major focus is to address the plight of the poor. In no country in the world have you seen government giving people houses free of charge because they are poor. - President Zuma