The Director General added that since 1994 the Government has built 2.7 Million houses providing shelter to over 13 Million people and by March 2009 at the end of the financial year 2.8 Million houses would have been built providing shelter to more than 13.5 Million people.

"Over the past 14 years the Government has spent over R100 Billion in providing serviced land and a top structure, this is the biggest economic investment in the residential construction sector and more than 2.7 Million families have houses and land they call their own. Of the 2.7 Million houses, over 1.2 Million were built from 2004 after the launch of the BNG policy. Our fast tracked delivery since 2004 has shown that working with our different partners we can deliver at unprecedented scale, and the launch of the Housing Development Agency will take us to greater heights never seen before in South Africa." He said.

He added that the Housing Development Agency will also partner with private sector developers, financial institutions, owners of both land and buildings to implement urban renewal projects and integrated human settlements.

"The HDA will work with all agencies of Government, the private sector and other stakeholders to facilitate not only the availability of land, but also mega developments like Curnobia, Lephalale and massive urban renewal programme in urban areas like Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town", he said.

The Director General added that the Comprehensive Plan for Development of Integrated Human Settlements in 2004, which is commonly known as Breaking New Ground or BNG is accelerating the delivery of housing and integrated sustainable human settlements, utilizing housing delivery as a catalyst for major job creation and economic growth, ensuring residential property is accessible to all and also alleviate asset poverty and create wealth, Promoting social cohesion and all housing projects must seek to achieve this objectives.

The Housing Development Agency would be launched by the Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu on Monday, March 02, 2009 at the ICC, Durban from 18:00pm to 20:00pm.

Members of the media can contact Mr Teboho Montse on 082 8866721 or Bongani Mlangeni on 082 885 3378.

Issued by Housing Media Services

Enquiries: Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Cell: 083 645 7838
Date: 01 March 2009