Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu, MP has called on South Africans to join government and lead in celebrating the delivery of 4.3 million houses and opportunities provided since the 1994 benefitting more than 20 Million people.

“This achievement makes South Africa number 1 in the world when it comes to the provision of decent accommodation with tenure options to the poor closer to amenities and places of economic activity. Indeed we are the first country to provide on such scale”, said Minister Sisulu.

“Over R500 billion has been spent since 1994 to ensure that more than 20 million of our people are housed in decent shelter thereby restoring their dignity, this include all subsidies, bulk services and community infrastructure, as a nation we have done very well” added Minister Sisulu.

Minister Sisulu said the 4.3 million houses and opportunities encompasses 68,640 Hostel / Community Residential Units, 121,784 Social/ Rental/ Institutional units, 6,329 Finance Linked (FLISP) , 2,806,235 RDP / BNG Houses, 986,608 Serviced Sites and EEDBS (houses given to tenants who qualify for BNG house-360 000 EEDBS).

“We are approaching 4.5 Million by the end of this year, by 2019 we would have delivered more than 5 Million housing opportunities with over 25 Million beneficiaries, all this is made possible by hard working South Africans who pay their tax on time, employers who assist their employees, community organisations, banks, developers and many other stakeholders, it is time we say thank you” She said.

Minister Sisulu was speaking today at the national launch of the 4.3 million houses and opportunities celebrations held at Cosmo City, North of Johannesburg. The Minister also joined the community of Cosmo City in celebrating over 10 years since the estate was launched. “Cosmo City was launched in 2005 to pilot our new way of doing things, of integration, of ensuring that the poor stay close to the rich, it stand proudly with other Estate or integrated human settlements projects like N2 Gateway in Cape Town and many others, today in Cosmo City we have over 150 000 people surrounded by schools, mall, industrial areas and amenities” She said.

The Minister added that the celebration must galvanize all South Africans to partner with Government to ensure that those who are still to benefit are assisted as soon as possible “We will announce in our budget vote speech new measures and programmes to fast track delivery, we will also announce new partnerships with the private sector that will ensure that we address the needs of all South Africans from those who seek affordable bonded houses, rental accommodation and serviced sites, we are on target to achieve the 1.5 Million housing opportunities by 2019” She said.

“The Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Zou Kota- Fredericks, Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Paul Mashatile and the Director General of Human Settlements Department Mbulelo Tshangana.

For more information: Contact Mr. Ndhivuwo Mabaya 083 645 7838