Minister Sisulu to host a social contract plenary session with all housing stakeholders plenary

13 March 2006

At the signing of the social contract for rapid housing delivery by housing stakeholders in September 2005 all signatories agreed to hold a plenary session in the first quarter of 2006.

This plenary is focused on reviewing progress on the implementation of key programmes like the release of the R42 billion by the banks for affordable housing, research done on how to best implement integration of different incomes and races in which the government proposed that developers look at making available 20 percent of their development to affordable housing. The research looked at the international trend and how best the agreed principles can be put into its operation in South Africa.

The plenary session will also receive presentations from different signatories on how far they have gone in the implementation of their commitments. Among the key signatories to the social contract for rapid housing delivery are the South African property owners association, the banking association, South African local government association representing all municipalities, the national and provincial government, material suppliers, engineers and other key stakeholders in the housing delivery chain.

The plenary session will come immediately after the first 2006 Minister’s meeting with provincial Housing MECs (MINMEC), to be held on 13 and 14 March, 2006. The Minister will meet all the housing MECs for the first time after the President’s State of the Nation Address and the national budget statement. The MINMEC will look at the housing programme for the year and other matters on the agenda aimed at speeding up housing delivery.

Members of the media are invited to participate in the plenary session of the social contract and also attend a media briefing scheduled for 14:00 at the venue.

Date: 15 March 2006
Time: 08h30 am for 9h00
Venue: Kempton Park (Kempton Park Civic Centre)

Enquiries:
Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Cell: 083 645 7838

Issued by: Ministry for Housing
13 March 2006