on the achievements of government from 2004 to 2009
18 February 2009
When I took over as MEC for Housing in 2004, I stated that (a) the quality
and standard of our housing products would be reviewed; (b) the informal
settlements would be formalised, upgraded and eradicated; (c) the 1996/97
waiting list would be cleaned-up and the waiting list data prioritised; (d) old
historically black townships to be prioritised for the provision of housing and
basic services; (e) participatory development principles and promotion of
labour intensive technologies/ methods in all our projects to be entrenched;
(f) non-racial and integrated mixed-income human settlements in well located
land to be established; (g) security of tenure to be promoted and number of
people enjoying security of tenure to be increased; and (h) funding agreements
for time-bound Urban Regeneration initiatives with municipalities and other
sister departments, as well as the rental housing policy to be concluded.
We are proud that these commitments made five years back assisted the
department to push back the frontiers of poverty by reducing the housing
backlog. In 1994 the housing backlog for Gauteng was estimated at 746 000
households. The number of informal households has increased in real terms
between 1996 and 2001, and is now estimated at 870,246 households.
Through our commitment to clean up the waiting list data, we introduced the
new Demand Database, encouraging people to come forward to update their
information. There are currently 440 000 households on the housing Demand Data
Base. And whilst government is stepping up its efforts to improve the provision
of decent shelter, the backlogs are expected to continue beyond government's
next term of office.
The Gauteng Provincial Government's (GPG) strategy on the development of
sustainable human settlements, based on the national strategy, Breaking New
Ground, aims to address apartheid's legacy of skewed spatial development
patterns through the provision of shelter, the enhancement of human settlements
and tackling asset and infrastructure poverty.
It is imperative to note that since 2004, the department has delivered 374
619 houses and plans to complete another 20 239 different housing opportunities
by the end of government's term of office in 2009. In the process 59 122 of
Gauteng residents were issued with title deeds. However, the demand for decent
shelter has continued to escalate due to population growth, in-migration and
the declining average household size. As we implement our projects, we are
constantly improving our norms and standards in order to ensure that we deliver
quality houses and in this regard, all out projects are enrolled with National
Housing Builders Registration Council, commonly known as the NHBRC, and such
cost are paid for by government. We are now building 40m2 houses across the
province in line with National norms and standards as set out by national
Minister of Housing.
Mixed Housing Developments
In the introduction of this programme, aimed at integrating communities,
there were some resistance. Some people were saying that building of RDP houses
next to their properties would downgrade their properties. In this financial
year there are various Mixed Housing Development Flagship Projects being
implemented in all regions of the province and already, through such
initiatives, we have been able to provide over 6 247 houses and 4 950
stands.
Through such projects, we have been able to ensure that people with
different incomes are able to live side by side without any discrimination.
Government at all levels, together with the private sector, is heavily
investing on infrastructure on these projects. Work is in progress to provide
further 11 197 housing units in mixed development projects in identified
areas.
By 2014, Gauteng would have implemented almost fourteen (14) of these
projects across the province and this will result in over 150 000 different
housing units delivered over a 5 year period. This will allow us to effectively
deal with the "market gap". All these projects are done with full co-operation
and participation of local authorities and the private sector, especially the
financial institutions
Through implementation of the Mixed Housing Development projects, government
is now able to realise its objective of creating jobs as well as
de-radicalising human settlements and create those that will accommodate all
and sundry, irrespective of one's background, financial status or social
standing.
These mixed developments have further ensured that communities are
integrated, thus promoting social cohesion and addressing the ills of apartheid
planning. The poor, for the first time have had direct opportunities of being
integrated into the mainstream housing market.
The cross subsidisation of basic services and infrastructure and savings on
infrastructure development have been some of the bi- products in these
projects. The issue of choice within affordability has been translated to
reality as various housing typologies based on the socio-economic conditions
offer maximum choices to the people of South Africa.
Formalisation and Eradication of Identified Informal Settlements
In October 2004, the Department, in consultation with various local
authorities, embarked on an extensive process to register all informal
settlements and their inhabitants. In this process, a total of 395 informal
settlements were identified for eradication by 2014.
This programme focuses on the provincial government's commitment to upgrade
and formalise identified informal settlements by 2009 and eradicate them by
2014. Out of the 395 identified, only 122 of the settlements were suitable for
in situ upgrade and the remaining earmarked for relocation to identified
projects.
By August 2008, a total of 68 of these 122 settlements had already been
formalised, with an additional 56 to be formalised by 2009 and once completed
people residing in these areas will now have access to security of tenure, have
own title deeds and, most important, provision of water and sanitation.
So far, 12 informal settlements have been eradicated. A further 24 informal
settlements are in the process of being eradicated, with housing construction
underway. This will bring the provincial total of eradicated informal
settlements to 36 in 2009. We are, therefore, confident that our plan to
eradicate informal settlements by 2014 is moving forward and more will be done
to speed up delivery in remaining areas.
Alternative Tenure
We have always reiterated that not all the people in Gauteng need permanent
accommodation. It is for this reason that we have vigorously intensified the
Alternative Tenure Programme, which includes Social Housing, Backyard Rental
and Hostel Eradication to provide affordable rental accommodation for those
people who are not able to or do not wish to own houses in Gauteng.
Our hostels today have taken a new shape from the apartheid spatial design
into family and other rental units accommodating a variety of beneficiaries.
The aim of the programme is to ensure the successful integration of the old
hostel precincts into communities.
Thus far, the work is progressing well in the following hostels Diepkloof,
Meadowlands, Orlando West, Dube, Kagiso, Mohlakeng, Saulsville, Mamelodi,
Refilwe, Sebokeng, Boipatong, Sethokga and Buyafuthi. In addition, social
integration is being achieved through the allocation of non-qualifying hostel
dwellers to permanent relocation projects within the province.
The Backyard Upgrade Programme, which forms part of the 20 Prioritised
Township Programme, is aimed at the rehabilitation of infrastructure in these
townships. The project is being piloted at Orlando East, Zola - both in Soweto
- and Boipatong, in Sedibeng. Based on the pilot, we have now extended the
project to Mamelodi and Soshanguve.
The intention is to regularise the erection of backyard accommodation for
rental and normalise the landlord-tenant relationship as a means of providing
alternative rental accommodation while at the same time changing the current
context of shack development.
As government we are constantly assessing our capacity to deliver and in
search of new ways to speed up service delivery. However, striking a balance
between the limited resources at the government disposal and the ever-growing
demand for services is proving to be intricate.
The reality of the matter is that the government cannot do it alone. The
housing backlog should be seen as the problem of everyone in the country and
therefore collaboration between government and various sectors is vital.
In attempting to address this situation, the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF),
a government agency, has developed a strategy that will enable us to form
partnership with private sector and, in particular, financial institutions, so
that more resources can be accessed. This strategy has been largely informed by
the current pressing needs for providing affordable rental accommodation and
creating visible sustainable human settlements for people of Gauteng.
Over the past five years, GPF has focussed exclusively on developing
financing solutions for social housing sector, leveraging R1.3-billion of
private sector funding and delivering about 12 000 affordable rental housing
units. Through this initiative we are increasing on social housing units so
that we continue providing diversified rental housing options for different
income groups across the province with focus in inner-cities and infill
developments.
Urban Regeneration Programmes
Gauteng's urban regeneration programmes have focused on strategic areas in
Gauteng that have dilapidated. The programmes have been implemented through
cooperation and partnerships across the three spheres of government, various
government departments and the private sector.
The priority has been high impact economic and social infrastructure
upgrades and development, including roads, transport, housing and bulk
infrastructure, as well as local economic development.
We have also made a commitment to improve the lives of people in areas such
as Winterveldt and other former cross boundary areas incorporated into
Gauteng.
Alexandra:
The Alexandra Renewal Project included 18 housing projects that have already
delivered a total of 7 460 new houses. RDP houses comprise 3 771 of this total,
and 3 154 are affordable social housing units. Four new schools have been built
and suitable land has been identified for mixed income groups, mixed use and
alternative tenure options. Other services delivered include the upgrading of
roads, the building of pedestrian bridges, the rehabilitation of the Jukskei
River banks, the creation of parks and gardens and the development of the
Alexandra Police Station, Pan African Development, Hostels, Clinics and other
infrastructure related projects.
Bekkersdal:
The Bekkersdal Renewal Project is in Westonaria, on Gauteng's West Rand. At
least 70 000 people are settled in the Bekkersdal informal settlement outside
the formal township boundaries. The Bekkersdal project was initiated to address
the plight of Bekkersdal residents located on high-risk and dolomitic land
through a relocation plan. Those affected include communities in informal
settlements, backyard shacks and hostel residents. The project was launched in
2004 and has a seven-year timeframe for completion. Over 16 000 housing units
are being developed to accommodate residents that are to be relocated within
the area over a five-year period.
Evaton:
The Evaton Renewal Project was launched in 2004 following a commitment made
at a government Imbizo with the community. Key priority areas include the
upgrading of bulk infrastructure and engineering services (sewer and water
networks, storm water and street lighting); roads and transport networks and
the upgrading of housing. The programme is being implemented in partnership
with private development companies and local contractors.
Twenty Prioritised Townships Programme
This intergovernmental programme, aimed at rehabilitating infrastructure in
Gautengs old established townships is improving the quality of life in these
communities. An initial amount of R3 billion was pledged for investment in the
20 townships over a three-year period for roads, schools, clinics, water and
sanitation facilities and backyard dwellings.
Since the programme began, R4,6 billion has been spent on 387 projects
including:
* the upgrading of over 800 km of road
* the development of 280 000 residential stands,
* the beautification of communities
* the development of the Precinct Plans in some of the townships to direct and
stimulate investment
* the rehabilitation of schools and clinics
* commercial and transport hubs in partnership with the private sector to
stimulate local economic development and job creation.
For more information, contact:
Aviva Manqa
Cell: 083 600 3830
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 083 602 6169
Issued by: Department of Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
18 February 2009
