Statement issued by Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu on 25 October 2007

WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY

The findings of Community Survey 2007 that have been released by Statistics South Africa reflect a society that is steadily overcoming the challenges posed by massive post-apartheid urbanisation.

According to the survey, more than 70% of South African households now live in formal dwellings, up from 64.4% in 1996. The proportion of households living in traditional dwellings decreased from 18.2% to 11.7% over the same period. And the proportion of households living in informal dwellings decreased from 16% to 14.5%.

The statistics indicate that while people are continuing to migrate from rural areas to the cities, the number of informal dwellings is dwindling. This decrease can only be attributed to the massive scale of housing delivery to poor people.

Since 1994, the South African government has constructed more than 2.4 million houses and given them away to needy households. Only the Indian and Chinese governments have built more houses, though they have not given them away free.

Over the same period, since the collapse of apartheid laws restricting the free movement of people, South Africa witnessed unnaturally high levels of migration from rural areas to the cities. In freer parts of the world, urbanisation had been allowed to take place at its own pace. There were times over the last 10 years that some questioned if we¹d ever be able to build enough houses to accommodate the stream of new arrivals.

Earlier this year the Department of Housing conducted research indicating that the delivery of housing had finally overtaken the need. More than 2.4 million houses had been delivered, and another 2.2 million were still required. Community Survey 2007 is further proof that we are making incredible strides.

We cannot afford to be complacent. The highest number of informal housing is in the North West Province (with 24%), probably because of the mining industry in that province, followed by Gauteng with 22%.  The Western Cape is fourth with 14.2% of its population living in informal settlements.

However, we are encouraged by the signs that we are making headway. We remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver more and better houses to the poor. We are convinced that the Department¹s new policy of building integrated human settlements will contribute further to create the kind of communities that reflect a transforming society.

* For more information please call Monwabisi Maclean on 082 8822 962.