Port Elizabeth, Addressing members of the media in Port Elizabeth the Director General of Housing, Itumeleng Kotsoane said after a history of challenges in the pace and quality of housing delivery in the Eastern Cape the systems to fast track housing delivery are beginning to show progress.

The DG added that since the approval of the intervention by Cabinet in April the National Department has been leading a team of officials from National, Province, various Municipalities and technical experts teamed together to develop sustainable systems to fast track housing delivery in the Province.

“We are beginning to see progress in delivery as a whole, but most importantly the three spheres of Government are beginning to work with each other better, there is better coordination of plans, allocation of resources and joint implementation of projects, and this is very central to sustainable delivery in the coming years” He said.

He added that better quality houses are being built in projects like Zanemvula, and there is a very detailed programme to fix some of the quality problems and blocked projects in rural projects like Matatiele, Flagstaff, Mount Free and Mount Ayliff.  Specific challenges facing each project have also been identified and appropriate direct measures to address those challenges are in place in order to fast track delivery.

“The National Home Builder Registration Council has been working very closely with the Provincial team and Municipal teams to ensure that projects are enrolled and inspected for quality as many times as possible, we are also contracting some of the best developers from across the country and locally to also ensure that they get all the necessary support they need at all times” He added.

The expenditure has improved and continues to improve the pace in which we appoint contractors and also pay for service done. While the total annual expenditure in 2007/8 was R 375 million, we have, as of October 2008 spend R 433 million of the provincial budget. He added that the new leadership in the Provincial Department has given full support to the working of the integrated.

For more information contact Ndivhuwo Mabaya on 083 645 7838

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