The Mayor informed the delegation that the eradication of the housing backlog in Bitou was one of the major challenges that faced the municipality. The eradication of informal settlements and backyard dwellers would also assist in eradicating the housing backlog. The Mayor indicated that the municipality would ensure that informal settlements were eradicated and that people would be housed in habitable conditions. As such, this commitment served as the rationale for the municipality's plea for the approval of applications for top structure where services had been installed.