“WE ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND IN HOUSING DELIVERY

SAYS HOUSING DIRECTOR GENERAL”

 

 

Durban, Kwazulu Natal: The Director General of Housing Itumeleng Kotsoane says the Govan Mbeki Housing Awards to be held tomorrow at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre is testimony that the Department and all its partners are breaking new ground in housing delivery.

“We have built more than 2, 6 million houses providing shelter to more than 10 million South Africans. People who have benefited from our housing programme is more than the populations of Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland combined. We are also providing our people with rental opportunities close to places of work,” said Kotsoane.

During the adjudication process, which took adjudicators to all housing projects across the length and breadth of South Africa, he said it was clear that all stakeholders were making progress in implementing government’s housing policy, Breaking New Ground. Provinces, municipalities, government agencies and housing sector partners have all changed the way they planned and implemented projects, with increased emphasis on quality and on building decent integrated human settlements close to places of work and social amenities.

“This process has shown us that every body is busy, very busy implementing the Government housing programme. Municipalities are planning better in an integrated manner, our systems are improving for the better and we can confidently say that we all have the same goal, that of building integrated human settlements,” said Kotsoane.

PROGRESS ON SOME KEY PROGRAMMES

  1. Military Veterans Housing Assistance Programme
     

The Housing Minmec has approved the Military Veterans Housing Assistance Programme, all military veterans of the liberation struggle who have not benefited from government’s housing programme and do qualify are urged to approach their nearest provincial Department of Housing with a proof from the Department of Defence that they are indeed military veterans. They also need to bring a copy of their Identity Document and proof of earnings.  Veterans must be earning less than R3 500 a month to qualify.

  1. R42 Billion commitment by the financial sector charter

 

The four major banks have informed the Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu that they have spent R38 billion of the R42 billion they committed to as part of the Finance Services Charter. These funds are directed to those people who earn between R3 000 and R8 000 a month.

Minister Sisulu and the Banking Sector are verifying the figures and discussing further partnerships.

  1. Dealing with Fraud and Corruption in the housing sector

 

The Special Investigation Unit and the Department of Housing are in the process of charging Government officials who fraudulently acquired Government subsidized houses.  They are also on the trail of Developers who defrauded Government and left without finishing projects.  243 Government officials have been convicted of fraud, 329 are appearing in court, 291 have been finalized and almost R2 Million recovered.

  1. Ensuring quality and decent houses for all

 

The National Home Builder Registration Council (NHBRC) has increased its quality monitoring systems. More inspectors have been employed and all Government projects are enrolled with the NHBRC for quality checks and regular quality inspection. 

  1. Provincial expenditure and Project implementation
     

At the recent MINMEC it was confirmed that all provinces are in very good standing when it comes to spending of their allocated R11 billion budget. Monitoring teams are also ensuring that funds are spent of projects and quality houses are built.

  1. Eastern Cape National Intervention
     

Cabinet approved in April 2008 the intervention by the National Department to assist the Provincial Department of the Eastern Cape in implementing the housing programme. The team consist specialist from the housing sector who are qualified in a range of areas required to develop systems to fast track housing delivery.  The team has identified all challenges, and systems have been put in place to unblock projects and finish all unfinished houses. Mega projects like Zanemvula are being fast tracked with about 1 000 houses handed over every three months.

  1. National Pilot Projects
     

Like Zanemvula, the N2 Gateway Project is progressing very well. Another 1000 houses are to be handed over next month.  The project has picked up pace and delivery is being fast tracked.  Other national projects are also being implemented with close monitoring to ensure quality.

The Director General concluded by calling upon all South Africans to continue to engage the Department in a dialogue on how we can best build a South Africa in which the poor have access to decent accommodation.

“ From our Television series BNG which is on SABC 2 every Monday at 22h00 and ETV at 18h25 and repeated on Saturday on SABC 2 at 11h00 we are beginning to get good feedback from various stakeholders on how they can in their own innovative and creative way can partner with Government to house our people,” he said.
THE GOVAN MBEKI HOUSING AWARDS ARE TO BE HELD AS FOLLOWS:

DATE:               FRIDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2008
VENUE:             ICC DURBAN
TIME:               18h00 for 18h30

 

A media briefing is scheduled to take place on Friday, the 10th of October 2008 at 10h00. It will be held at ICC Room 12 A and it will be addressed by KwaZulu-Natal MEC Housing Mike Mabuyakhulu, Housing Director General Itumeleng Kotsoane and other senior officials.

Members of the media can confirm with the following people.

Lennox Mabaso on 082 884 2403/Teboho Montse on 082 8866721/Ndivhuwo Mabaya on 083 645 7838.

Issued by Xolani Xundu
Cell:082 885 3378
Chief Director: Communications
Department of Housing