The Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu, MP, will today give details and announce members of the recently announced enquiry into the removal of illegal occupants of the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) land at Lwandle/Nomzamo in the Western Cape.

Minister Sisulu will also give update on the engagement with the community leaders, SANRAL, City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Province and proposed way-forward.
The briefing will take place as follows:

Date: 05 June 2014 (TODAY)
Time: 14:30
Venue: Imbizo Media Centre, Parliament, Cape Town

Enquiries
Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Cell: 083 645 7838
Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements
Date: 5 June 2014

The Ministerial Enquiry appointed by Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, to investigate the evictions at Nomzamo (Lwandle) Cape Town, will on Tuesday, 29 July 2014 commence with the third round of its public hearings at Nomzamo (Lwandle).

Having completed the first and second rounds of oral public hearings, the Enquiry will hear oral presentations from the members of the Community of Nomzamo (Lwandle) who were directly affected by the evictions that took place on the 2nd and 3rd June 2014.

To this end, the process for statement taking from the members of the community together with any relevant documentation and records commenced on Wednesday 23rd July 2014 and those who have been considered and approved by the Enquiry are being notified and invited to make oral presentations at the hearings.

The last category of hearings (Category D) will concentrate on other parties including NGOs, CBOs, etc. The venue and time for this round of hearings will be communicated in due course.

In the interest of transparency and meaningful public participation the Enquiry will conduct its hearings in public and anyone interested can attend. However, this will apply on the basis of first come first serve due to space limitations. The details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Time: 10: 00
Venue: Lwandle Community Hall in Nomzamo (A walking distance from the Nomzamo Community Hall where affected community members are being housed).

For Media Enquiries Please Contact:
Vusi Tshose - 0835815265

The Ministerial Enquiry on Nomzamo (Lwandle) evictions closed the first day of community oral presentations this afternoon. The hearings were held at the Lwandle Community Hall in Lwandle.

The members of the community that have appeared before the Enquiry include: Ms Xoliswa and Mr Albert Masakala; Ms Nomapeli Pupu; Mr Daluxolo Mvoko; Ms Nolusindiso Plam; Lungiswa Ncasana and other members who were randomly selected from the audience.

As previously communicated, the community public hearings will adjourn as from today and reconvene on Thursday this week (31 July 2014) at Lwandle Community Hall. Details for the next hearing are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 31 July 2014
Venue: Lwandle Community Hall.
Time: 10: 00

For Media Enquiries
Please Contact: Vusi Tshose - 0835815265

The Minister of Human Settlements, Honourable LN Sisulu, MP, will tomorrow deliver a keynote address at the Policy Convention of the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC).

The South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) initiative was founded to empower women to gain access to contracts, training, finance and networks in the construction industry.

The Minister of Human Settlements recently met with SAWIC as part of her engagement with stakeholders.

The event will take place as follows:

Date: 31 July 2014 (TOMORROW)
Time: 11:00
Venue: Birchwood Hotel, Benoni, Johannesburg

Enquiries:
Issued by Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Ministry Spokesperson
Mobile: 083 645 7838
Date: 30 July 2014

The Ministerial Enquiry on Nomzamo (Lwandle) evictions has completed its community oral presentations with the affected members of the community this afternoon. The hearings were held at the Lwandle Community Hall in Lwandle.

Members of the Enquiry will however continue with the taking of statements from the members of the community who were affected by the evictions in June 2014. Details of this process will be communicated in due course.

Moving forward, the Enquiry will hear from the representatives of the South African Police Services (SAPS) on Friday, 8 August 2014.

In the interest of transparency and meaningful public participation the Enquiry will conduct its hearings in public and everyone interested can attend. However, this will apply on the basis of the first come first serve situation due to space limitations.

Details of the oral presentation by the SAPS are as follows:

Date: Friday, 8 August 2014
Time: 10:00
Venue: Good Hope Sub-Council Building, 44 Wale Street, Cape Town.

For media enquiries please contact:
Vusi Tshose - 0835815265

Addressing the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) policy conference the Minister of Human Settlements, Honourable Lindiwe Sisulu announced today that thirty percent (30%) of all human settlements projects with a rand value of over R35 Billion of the R150 Billion projected budget over five years will be awarded to companies and cooperatives owned by women.

Minister Sisulu added that to support women cooperatives and companies to access this allocation and also grow their companies the National Department of Human Settlements has set up a Women in Construction Support Branch, headed a Deputy Director General (DDG) dedicated to coordinating capacity development and general support to women in community infrastructure construction.

"We are committed to supporting women and youth, our provinces and municipalities will also set up offices to support women and youth in construction. I call on women at this policy conference to support and encourage other women to join construction" She said.

The Minister announced to the delight of delegates that she is considering the formation of a Women Construction Bank to focus on financing women cooperatives and construction companies that are involved in community infrastructure and human settlements projects. “My dream is of a Women Construction Bank to assist you with bridging finance and loans for building material and vehicles for work. l think National Urban Reconstruction & Housing Agency (NURCHA) one of our development finance institution when it finally merge with Rural Housing Loan Fund (RHLF) and National Housing Finance Cooperation (NHFC) can assist us with this national task, to have dedicated financial teams and advisors for women, we will insist they must be women as well” Sisulu said.

The Minister called on all partners in the construction sector who are working with Government to build 1.5 Million housing opportunities in 5 years and also to join her and target 30 percent of their sub contracting work to women.

"All big companies and our partners are invited to join us in empowering women, l challenge them to award 30 percent of their work to women cooperatives and companies, particularly small medium companies in order for them to grow. We as government we will hold their hands and support them just give us a chance, we will show you what women can do" She added.

She called on Parliament, Provincial Legislatures, Councils and women organisations like SAWIC to monitor that women are empowered and given opportunities.

Enquiries:
Issued by Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Ministry Spokesperson
Mobile: 083 645 7838
Date: 31 July 2014

The Minister of Human Settlements, Honourable Lindiwe Sisulu, warns members of the community of bogus payments scam using “Human Settlements Letter Head”.

This comes after certain number of people received emails notifying them of the unclaimed sum of money (Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand British Pounds) from the “United Nation Funds Agency” which states “your email address is among the list of people who have never received any of their payments among Lottery/Inheritance funds and victims who have lost a lot of money to scammers while trying to claim their funds”.

Members of the community are advised to ignore these emails and report these illegal activities to the law enforcement agencies.

Attached is the letter which has been emailed to various people.

Enquiries:
Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Mobile: 083 645 7838
Date: 04 August 2014

Following the unnecessary and misleading media statement issued by the Mayor of Cape Town Ms Patricia De Lille on Sunday, August 10, 2014 accusing the Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu of withholding R50 Million due to the City, the Minister wishes to put the following on record.

1. The City of Cape Town and the other five Metros, ie Nelson Mandela, Ekurhuleni, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and Ethekwini have submitted Business Plans to access a Municipal Human Settlements Capacity Grant. This is a new grant, the roll-out of which is starting in the currently financial year, for the coming three financial years.

2. The Grant is sliced from the national Human Settlement Development Grant to develop capacity for Municipalities and Metros that have received level 3 accreditation. Level 3 accreditation is approved by Provincial MECs of Human Settlements after Municipalities and Metros meet the criteria set out in the Human Settlement Code and other policies. In total the grant set aside for the six metros for this financial year is R300 000 000.00.

In total the grant set aside for the six metros for this financial year is about R300 000 000 and to be allocated as follows to the each metro:

• Nelson Mandela Metro  R37 707 000
• Ekurhuleni Metro   R52 374 000
• City of Joburg   R59 573 000
• City of Tshwane   R47 506 000
• E Thekwini    R52 469 000
• City of Cape Town   R50 370 000

3. The nine provincial MECs, who form the Human Settlements MINMEC, chaired by the Minister of Human Settlements, have indicated that none of the six Metros have qualified for level three accreditation and it is thus premature for them to be demanding that funds be transferred to them.

4. The respective MECs have requested the six Metros to re-submit Business Plans for a review of how they will use the funds. The MECs are concerned that some of these funds will be used to appoint consultants instead of creating permanent structures in Metros to support the fast tracking of housing delivery.

5. MINMEC has indicated a serious concern that low quality houses are still being built whereas municipalities with level 2 accreditation should have the capacity to monitor and ensure that houses are of the best quality. MINMEC also expressed its unhappiness with continued under-spending and the use of consultants and reminded Metros of importance of developing projects that are in line with the national policy of integrated human settlements.

In conclusion, no funds will be transferred to the six metros until they have received level three accreditation. This is in line with the Human Settlements Code. They are encouraged to meet with the provincial MECs to submit all required documents. The Minister and MECs have met with SALGA to explain their position and have asked for an urgent joint MINMEC with the Minister of Local Government and the relevant MECs.

We call on the City of Cape Town to go to Wale Street, just around the corner from their office to meet the Western Cape MEC of Human Settlements to discuss this matter. He is located on the 4th floor, first office on the right and his name is MEC Madikizela.

Enquiries:
Issued by Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Ministry Spokesperson
Mobile: 083 645 7838
Date: 13 August 2014

NHBRC TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATION INTO THE MEYERSDAL HOUSING COLLAPSE The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) has sent a structural engineer and an inspector to the site of the collapsed house in Meyersdal today to properly investigate the project. The NHBRC would like to satisfy itself as to the cause of the disaster and as to whether it falls within the ambit of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act (Act No. 95 of 1998).

The NHBRC urges the public to verify the credentials of builders (developers and subcontractors) before commencing with any construction. Housing consumers are advised to verify beforehand, by contacting the NHBRC either through the toll free number 0800 200 824 or on the website www.nhbrc.org.za , whether or not a company and/or person is a registered home builder.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that we play our part as the NHBRC and sensitise the public on the potential dangers that could result from structural failure due to sub-standard workmanship,” says Dr. Jeffrey Mahachi, head of the NHBRC Centre for Research and Housing Innovation 

For more information:
Molebogeng Taunyane, Media Specialist
+27 11 317 0070/ molebot@nhbrc.org.za

About the NHBRC

The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) is a statutory body with the responsibility to provide protection in terms of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act ( Act No.95 of 1998). It is mandated to provide protection for housing consumers and to regulate the home building industry. For more information: www.nhbrc.org.za

The Minister of Human Settlements, Honourable LN Sisulu, MP, will this morning, Tuesday brief Members of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on plans to achieve the 100 days target she announced during her budget vote speech.

Amongst other things the Minister will touch on are her engagement with the Banking sector, SALGA and the Chamber of Mines aimed at finding solutions to housing challenges in the country.

Details are as follows:

Date: 19 August 2014 (TODAY)
Time: 11:00
Venue: Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street

Enquiries:
Bongani Mlangeni
078 098 9301