MEC Rogers Basikopo Makamu: Limpopo Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Prov Dept Budget Vote 2023/24

Address by Honourable MEC Rogers Basikopo Makamu on the occasion of the tabling of Budget Vote 11 of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, Lebowakgomo Legislative Chamber.

Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker;
Honourable Premier of the Province Stanley Chupu Mathabatha;
Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party; Colleagues in the Executive Council;
Chairperson and members of the Portfolio Committee on CoGHSTA; Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature;
Honourable Members of Parliament and NCOP;
Your Worship, Executive Mayors and Mayors of our Municipalities; The Leadership of SALGA in the Province;
Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders including the entire Executive Committee;
Provincial Leadership of CONTRALESA;
Our esteemed Majesties, and Royal Highnesses present;
Leadership of the IEC and other Chapter Nine and Ten Institutions present;
The leadership of the Ruling Party, the African National Congress and Alliance Partners; Stalwarts and Veterans of our Struggle;
Leaders of Opposition Parties; Representatives of NHBRC, RISIMA and HDA;
Chairperson of the Housing Tribunal and MEC Advisory Panel CoGHSTA Staff led by the Head of Department, Dr. M. Malahlela; Members of the Media present;
Invited Guests and Stakeholders of the Departments; Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen;

 

Ndzi rhanza ku teka nkarhi lowu ni xeweta vayeni, va chaviseki va hina hi ku angarhela. Avuxeni! Honourable Speaker, I stand before this August House to present the fiscal plan for the Budget Vote 11 in the 2023/2024 financial year. This is my fourth Budget Statement since I was appointed MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs. I therefore wish to thank Honourable Premier of the Province, Stanley Chupu Mathabatha “Mahlatji a Hlabirwa” for the continued trust in me. I also wish to thank once again Honourable Premier Mathabatha, as the Chairperson of the ANC for his treasured support during the implementation of the previous budget and for his guidance during the formulation of the one which I am about to present.

Honourable Speaker;

May I, remind this August House that our late international icon; Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech in May 1994 said “We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the millions of our people. We enter a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.”

Honourable Speaker;

This budget vote is a presentation of our covenant to contribute to socio-economic development and to better the livelihoods of the communities of Limpopo. Let us remind ourselves that entering this covenant is a long journey which requires sacrifices and determination as Madiba did. With passage of time, I have learnt that it requires all of us; government, private sector, civil society formations, traditional leaders and communities to work together because the need for social and economic success to eradicate poverty, job creation and delivery of better services is our unifying factor.

Honourable Speaker,

This 2023/24 Budget vote comes at a time when our country is faced with a tight monetary and fiscal policy stance. Therefore, as a department, we need to spend our allocation with diligence to accomplish the strategic objectives in line with our departmental strategic plan and sector priorities. In addressing the scourge of poverty, our department remains with an obligation to support and provide decent shelter and basic services to Limpopo citizenry.

Programme 2: Integrated Sustainable Human Settlements (ISHS)

Honourable Speaker;

As we draw towards the end of this term of administration, our covenant is in line with the commitment we made when we adopted the departmental 2020-25 strategic plan. Our departmental programmes are primarily informed by the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework, particularly priority number four which emphasizes spatial integration, human settlements, and local government.

Informed by the MTSF, we committed to create integrated human settlements through:

 

• Creation of housing opportunities
• Upgrading of informal settlements
• Transfer of title deeds to beneficiaries
• Formalisation of settlements
• Provision of services sites

Honourable Speaker

The human settlements sector is tasked to ensure provision of housing development, access to adequate accommodation in relevant well-located areas, access to basic services and access to social infrastructure and economic opportunities. Provision of these services is implemented through two key conditional grants namely the Human Settlements Development Grant and the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant. The key expenditure drivers are the Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP), the Urban & Rural Housing Programme and serviced sites. Therefore, constraints in these programmes have an overall impact on performance and service delivery targets over time.

Honourable Speaker;

The provision of adequate housing and basic services ensures that the quality of life of citizens is improved, thereby upholding the inherent dignity and worth of every individual as the country forges towards the egalitarian and rights-based society that we all aspire to live in.

I am happy to announce to this August House that the total housing units delivered since the beginning of our 6th administrative cycle are 20 370 against a target of 39 884. This translates to 51%. To attain the five-year target would require that we provide 19 514 units in the coming two financial years.

We are however aware of the journey that still lie ahead. In terms of what we committed in 2022/2023 financial year's overall performance; our annual planned target was to deliver 4 895 housing units. At the end of fourth quarter of 2022/23 financial year, a total 5 058 housing units were delivered. In other words, we have exceeded our annual target by 03%.

Our journey to deliver houses as per our covenant continues in 2023/2024 financial year where our annual target is to deliver 7 291 low-cost housing units (R661m) in various programme including rural, social, urban and blocked projects across the province. To ensure that that the needs of the most vulnerable are prioritised, we further impress upon our municipalities to prioritise the elderly, women, child-headed households, and people living with disabilities when allocating housing units.

We have also established a contract management unit, which will help us to monitor contractor performance and act swiftly in instances of poor contractor performance. Furthermore, in line with the commitment made in the last budget vote, we have started with processes to identify and hold accountable officials that have contributed to the poor performance.

Honourable Speaker, we acknowledge the inconvenience caused by blocked housing projects. To ensure that qualifying households get access to shelter, we will progressively address all blocked housing projects in line with the Ministerial directives. To this effect, the department has assessed and conducted structural integrity through NHBRC for 2000 blocked housing units, 350 housing units (R39.7) will be unblocked during 2023/24 financial year. In addition, we are also replacing 500 mud houses by low cost houses at a cost of R69m in this financial year.

 

The role played by Military Veterans on the emancipation of an African child can never be over- emphasised. The freedom and all related benefits enjoyed by this generation and generations to come is due to the sacrifice of these heroes and heroines. It is therefore the responsibility of this caring government to ensure that our Military Veterans have access to critical benefits such as housing, health, education, burial support, and pensions among other things.

We are happy to announce that our Military Veterans housing programme is gaining momentum. Despite teething challenges, the programme is on track, and we continue to explore various ways to expedite the delivery of houses to the Military Veterans. Since the inception of the programme, the department has been able to complete 137 Military Veterans housing units for these Stalwarts. For the 2022/23 financial year, we targeted to deliver 79 units. To date, we managed to complete 15 units while 18 are at various stages of construction. We unfortunately have 45 units that have not yet commenced due to unavailability of serviced sites. The department is engaging various municipalities to provide serviced sites in urban areas for the Military Veterans.

Our 2023/24 target for this programme is 100 (R9,9m). It is important to indicate that one of the major challenges the entire sector is facing is that due to the scattered nature of the housing units, the delivery time is slow, while in some instances service providers find the programme not economically viable to implement, resulting in abandoned projects. To mitigate this challenge, we are engaging our implementing agent for this programme, HDA, to consider using service providers already allocated housing projects in areas where there are Military Veterans.

We are all aware of the dangers of asbestos on the health of communities and households. The people with the largest exposure to asbestos have the greatest risk of contracting asbestos-related diseases. As a caring government, the removal of asbestos roofs is thus one of the priorities of the human settlements sector.

I am proud to announce, Honourable Speaker that Limpopo has initiated asbestos roof removal and replacement project. When I presented the 2022/23 budget speech, I announced that we have targeted to replace 1500 asbestos roofs (R15m) in Seshego, Polokwane. The project took us longer to implement due to the legislative requirements and intricacies involved to implement a project of this nature for the first time in the province. I am however pleased to announce that to date, we have managed to replace 775 roofs. The remaining 725 asbestos roof removal and replacement will be completed during 2023/24 financial year. We have also appointed HDA to conduct a province-wide audit of 10 500 asbestos roofs so that we can develop a multi-year plan. We will not relent until all asbestos roofs are replaced and our people stay in safe environments.

Honourable Speaker;

During the presentation of SOPA, our Premier of the Province, Honourable Stan Chupu Mathabatha said “This administration is serious about addressing the challenges facing the social stratum called the “missing middle”. In human settlement terms, the “missing middle” refers to households who do not qualify for the government's low-cost housing subsidy, because their income is above the eligibility level, while they do not qualify for mortgage bonds from commercial banks, because their income is below the qualifying threshold for the home loans they want. In order 

to deal with this hindrance, RISIMA, our provincial housing finance agency, has partnered with the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, to implement the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP)”

Honourable Speaker;

May I emphasise that the department has partnered with RISIMA Housing Finance to implement FLISP. Since the inception of the programme, 175 subsidies were disbursed at the cost of R14 million. In the previous financial year, we had planned to disburse 50 subsidies. However, we have gone beyond our target and exceeded by 22 to a total of 72 subsidies. This financial year, we have planned to disburse 50 subsidies (R4,5m) under this programme.

Despite an increase in the “missing middle”, the uptake on this programme has been lower than what we anticipated. One of the challenges with the programme is that it is not clearly known and understood by the public. However, we will in this financial year market this housing funding through media road shows and other marketing mediums to raise awareness to the communities of Limpopo. In the next financial year we will adjust our annual target to accommodate more subsidies. Through this programme, people will be able to secure housing finance at an affordable price.

Honourable Speaker;

Our endeavors in human settlements development will continue. The rollout of Community Residential Units (CRU's) continues to be the key focus of our department:

This is one of our old projects that should have been completed a while ago. As I presented previously, the department recalled the project from the HDA, and is being managed internally. The intervention plan together with the optimized schedule was developed to put the project on track and currently the contractor is on site managed closely by both the Department and the Principal Agent. Work progress to date: from the 514 planned units, 394 structures are at a various stages of completion. However, 48 blocks which consist of 152 units are roofed currently busy with finishes. We anticipate completing the project by the end of this financial year.

In Makhado-Tshikota Community Residential Units (R90m), a contractor has been appointed for construction of 118 CRUs. Site handing over to commence with the project was done in December 2022 and the construction work permit was approved in February 2023 by the Department of Employment and Labour. Currently, is work in progress. We anticipate completing this project in the next financial year by 2024/2025.

The Tzaneen-Talana Community Residential Units. The feasibility study for the project was concluded in November 2022. However, the department noted the delay in finalizing the designs and town planning processes by the local authorities. The department is finalizing the appointment of the Principal Agent and Contractor to resume the construction for 2023/2024.

When it comes to property ownership, Title Deed is a legal evidence that you truly own a property. The ANC led government provides the whole package for housing for free. Honourable Speaker allow me to repeat, for free.

 

For this financial year, we have planned to register 1500 (R2,9m) across the province. To accelerate title deeds registration, the department will finalize township establishment processes for proclamation in Lepelle-Nkumpi, Greater Letaba and Bela-Bela municipalities. Once concluded, this will unlock registration of 953 title deeds.

Honourable Madam Speaker;

Last year we committed to acquire portions of land in Lephalale and Elias Motsoaledi for human settlements. It therefore gives me pleasure to announce that the Department has acquired Ledibeng Eco estate in Lephalale Local Municipality. The land was owned by Eskom and was being disposed of as part of Eskom's strategy of disposal of non-core properties. The land consists of 200 serviced sites to be part of rapid land release for deserving beneficiaries.

The second land portion is in Elias Motsoaledi (farm Kikvorschfontein). The land is occupied as an informal settlement and the department has acquired the land to formalize the settlement and provide sustainable human settlement. An approval was obtained from provincial Treasury for the acquisition of the land from private seller. Currently, the department is finalizing the transaction with HDA.

The department is continuing to develop the areas where land was acquired previously such as Mooifontein extension in Fetakgomo-Tubatse municipality. To date, we have completed the installation of engineering services such as water and sewer reticulation including the construction link and internal roads.

Altoostyd (Joe Slovo integrated human settlements development) in Lephalale is one of the catalytic projects prioritised in the Limpopo Development Plan. A phased development approach was adopted for Altoostyd and current construction of houses has not yet commenced as we are waiting for the engineering services phases to be completed. The following town planning and engineering services milestones were completed; township establishment was completed, installation of water and sewer reticulation for 2000 sites was completed, installation of electricity reticulation for 700 sites was completed, and 2.4 km of water pipeline and 9 km of bulk electrical line including associated infrastructure were completed.

To address the lack of bulk sewer services, the designs for upgrading of Paarl wastewater treatment plant was completed and the contractor will be appointed in 2023/24 financial year, 

Mining Towns Revitalization programme, let me indicate that five projects for servicing of sites, construction of link roads, provision of water treatment package plant and correcting of outfall sewer were completed in provincial growth points, namely in Thabazimbi (Raphuti and Regorogile), Fetakgomo-Tubatse (Burgersfort Extension), Mogalakwena (Mokopane Ext 20) and Elias Motsoaledi (Masakaneng) mining towns.

The Mining Towns Revitalization programme will continue to be one of our bulk infrastructure delivery instruments in the 2023/24 financial year with the ring-fenced budget allocation R80m. The department will construct the upgrading of wastewater treatment works at Motetema, bulk water and sewer infrastructure projects in Masakaneng, and geohydrological studies, borehole refurbishment and mapping at Rossenekal under Elias Motsoaledi Municipality.

Honourable Speaker, on the provision of serviced sites, the department managed to complete 379 serviced sites against the annual target of 6 055 and 4619 sites are in progress in various municipalities. For this financial year we have planned to service 1 639 sites with the budget allocation of R108m. We did not perform well in this area. A major contributing factor to the poor performance was due to undertaking planning processes during the year of implementation, which led to a delay in actual start of the construction. Honourable Speaker, this is the one area that we have not been performing well due to our poor forward planning processes, that led to delay in commencement of projects and subsequent loss of R145m. From the consequence management point of view, regarding this loss disciplinary measures will be implemented against the implicated officials.

To turn the situation around, we will be focussing on planning for multi-year projects and ensuring that we conclude all technical planning processes a year before implementation. We are confident that the systems we are establishing will enable us to improve on our expenditure, and further improve access to services.

In mitigation of this short-fall, the department has since developed a turn-around strategy, to address the Human Settlements portfolio, which has been of great concern because of its performance. The implementation of the strategy is already yielding results. At the core of the turn-around strategy has been to strengthen forward planning and contract management. Some of the milestones already attained include finalisation of a database of five-year development areas per municipality. This will allow us to conclude all the planning processes including geotechnical investigations a year in advance. We therefore call upon our municipalities to also adopt a similar approach in respect of beneficiary management, as this continues to be another challenge. We call upon municipalities to start identification of beneficiaries in the various development areas even before the confirmation of approved housing units.

To change the trajectory, the department has resolved to prioritise the provision of bulk services. Working with the various water service authorities, the department has identified and prioritised bulk water and sewer projects for implementation during the coming years. Deliberate focus has been made to ensure alignment between the departmental budget and the Water Services Development Plans in line with the integrated development planning principles. A database of engineering consultants has been finalised to address bulk service provision in accordance with conditional grants requirements. In addition, through District One Plans and priority development areas, this will assist in accelerating availability of bulk infrastructure which also contribute to spatial transformation.

 

To this effect, 26 bulk infrastructure projects amounting to R266 million have been budgeted for this current financial year to address shortage of bulk infrastructure across district municipalities. This will assist the department to lessen challenges during the implementation of water and sewer reticulation projects in municipalities and improve access to water and sanitation services.

On the 31st of March 2023, the Minister of Human Settlements Honourable Mamoloko Kubayi pronounced an adjustment on policy changes to accelerate performance in the housing sector. From the 1st of April 2023, in real terms, our housing programmes will be adjusted as follows:

• BNG services and top structure will move from R196 887 to R255 364,
• House for persons with disabilities will move from R209 071 to R271 166,
• Military veterans' houses will move from R240 607 to R312 069,
• First Home Finance will move from R130 505 to R169 265,
• Social housing will move from R327 667 to R424 984.

Programme 3: Corporate Governance Honourable Speaker;

Local government provides immediate intervention in terms of provision of services because it is a sphere that is closer to the community. We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. We must therefore act together as a united people, to build this province for the rebirth of a new dawn in 2023/24 financial year.

Honourable Speaker;

Our Premier of the Province, Honourable Stanley Chupu Mathabatha in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) pronounced that “Municipal infrastructure development is a key enabler for growth and development. We expect our municipalities to invest more in the development and maintenance of water, sanitation, electricity, and road infrastructure”.

There has been a decline in the MIG expenditure for 2022/2023 financial year. Let me congratulate municipalities that are performed well and have received an additional MIG allocation totalling R251.29 million, during the recent budget adjustments by National Treasury. Please join me in congratulating these municipalities; Collins Chabane (R45 million), Maruleng (R35 million), Elias Motsoaledi (R32 million), Thulamela (R30 million), Fetakgomo Tubatse (R30 million), Makhuduthamaga (R24 million), Blouberg (R21.29 million), Ephraim Mogale (R19 million) and Greater Letaba (R15 million).

On the other hand, there are municipalities who underperformed, and this is worrisome. We urge underperforming municipalities to address the various challenges contributing to poor expenditure.

Honourable Speaker;

The province has noted with appreciation the improvement of our municipal audit outcomes over the years. The Auditor-General, Ms Tsakani Maluleke has also found a 'notable improvement' in municipal audit outcomes in Limpopo. When addressing the Premier's Provincial Inter-Governmental Forum on 17 March 2023, the Auditor-General indicated that even though the numbers remained stagnant during the 2021/22 audit period, the province has shown improvements.

Appreciation to our two municipalities, Waterberg and Capricorn District Municipalities that attained clean audits. The last time the province achieved two clean audits was in 2010/11, Fetakgomo Local Municipality and Waterberg District Municipality. May we give them a round of applause.

 

Out of the 27 municipalities 13 auditees have received unqualified audit opinions with matters of emphasis, 11 auditees received, qualified audit opinions and 1 auditee received a disclaimer. We further applaud all our municipalities that improved obtained unqualified audit outcomes and encourage the municipalities that have regressed to also improve.

The AG however raised concerns over a hefty reliance on consultants, with municipalities. According to AG, the province spent approximately R 231 million on consultants for related financial services reporting in 2021/2022 financial year. There was a slight decrease as compared to R279 million from 2020/2021 financial year. To this effect, the Premier has directed municipalities to reduce their consultant spending by 60%. As the department, we further undertake to work together with the Provincial Treasury to continue improving audit outcomes, and sound financial management in municipalities.

Honourable Speaker;

The District Development Model (DDM) is an approach and a process emphasizing the involvement of all spheres of government, private sector and civil society in planning. The Outcome of the DDM process is the gradual development of all-Inclusive long-term district One Plans with catalytic projects for each district space. Our Province continues to embrace and institutionalize DDM within the current intergovernmental relations (IGR) structures through the implementation of the provincial IGR, Integrated Planning, and Monitoring & Evaluation framework.

The district One Plans are, currently open for inputs and updating. I therefore, advise all sectors to support and participate in the implementation of the One Plans. This includes identification of any additional critical high impact catalytic projects, to be included in the updated district One Plans.

Honourable Speaker;

Section 30 (1) (b) of the Disaster Management Act, no 57 of 2002 as amended, provides that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre must promote an integrated and coordinated approach to disaster management in the province, with special emphasis on prevention or reducing the risk of disasters, mitigating the severity of disaster, emergency preparedness, rapid and effective response to disasters and post-disaster recovery. Based on this legislative mandate, the PDMC continues to support municipalities on disaster management.

In the last four years, we have endured disasters in various forms and degrees. The Covid-19 pandemic was the worst of them all, claiming lives and livelihoods. Then there was Tropical Cyclone Eloise and to a lesser extent Cyclone Freddy. These disasters were punctuated by comparatively minor disasters like the Seshego hailstorm and others which struck small areas of our province. The province has also experienced abnormal rainfall since December 2022 overlapping into the year 2023. The rain has been pouring in all five districts and leaving several households and infrastructure affected, including loss of life.

Total estimated cost of the post disaster maintenance and repairs, human settlements, roads and infrastructure, municipal internal streets and culverts for the province is approximately R340.5 million.

The National Disaster Management Centre has determined and allocated emergency disaster relief grant to eleven municipalities who applied and met all requirements in terms of the conditions of the grant. The department is waiting for approval letters for the allocation of funds to the municipalities which are expected to commence with implementation in April 2023.

 

We urge sector departments and municipalities to move swiftly in implementing projects when funds have been availed.

Overall, the intensity of disasters has increased, requiring the province and municipalities to build the capacity to mitigate and respond to disasters. This requires all stakeholders to work together to prevent disasters, and to further respond on time. We call upon our traditional leaders and municipalities, to strengthen land use management and ensure that households are not located on riverbanks or areas which are prone to floods. We further call on municipalities to mainstream disaster risk reduction in their planning and infrastructure provisioning processes.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the private sector and civil society movements for their responsiveness and partnerships during time of disasters. The partnerships have taught us that where there is a clear, shared, common goal, it is possible to lobby support and have both government and non- government partners working together in pursuit of socio-economic development objective.

Programme 4: Traditional Affairs Honourable Speaker;

Of cardinal importance, our covenant with Limpopo traditional leadership solidifies. The department acknowledges and supports the critical role of traditional leadership institutions across the province and its contribution to the developmental agenda. We, therefore, remain resolute and unshaken to strengthen and support the institution of traditional leadership. The support to institutions of traditional leadership involves a wide range of activities which includes, provision of offices, office furniture, vehicles, staff compliment as well as many other tools of trade which enable them to provide services to their communities.

Honourable Speaker;

The department, together with the provincial house of traditional leaders, embarked on process to develop a three-year plan of traditional councils to be constructed, those that will need refurbishment and those that will require furniture. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders' support of the process resulting in an approved list of traditional councils to benefit in the 2023/2024, 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years.

It gives me great pleasure to pronounce that the department is currently constructing seven (7) traditional council offices namely: Bakone Traditional Council, Bakone Ba Matlala, Raphahlelo, Majeje, Bakwena Ba Matsepe, Manoke, as well as Davhana with Mogashoa Dihlakaneng having been recently completed. Over and above, in this new financial year will continue to provide endless support to the institution of traditional leadership by continuing to:

• Construct and refurbish traditional council offices, with three (3) offices to be refurbished: Matlala Ramoshebo, Mampane, and Litho Ndzuza and seven (7) to be constructed: Tau Nkadimeng, Bashai Ditlou, Mamaila Kolobetona, Mashau, Mankweng, Bakenberg and Makuya. This construction and refurbishment of traditional council offices has budget of R25 million in 2023/2024 financial year.
• The procurement of 100 vehicles for Senior Traditional Leaders on a budget of R55 million is reserved for 2023/2024 financial year. Another 100 will be procured in 2024/2025 with a budget of R55 million. The department has also in this financial year prioritised to purchase furniture for 20 traditional councils across the province. In 2022/2023 financial year, we have procured furniture for 27 Traditional Councils at a cost of R4.3 million. By 31 March 2023 delivery to 23 Traditional Councils had already been done, the remaining 4 will be delivered this month of April 2023.

• Initiation is a rite of passage which embraces both boys and girls at their teens. No one can deny the fact that initiation practice is an old age tradition which transcends generations and epochs. Due to the suspension of initiations schools as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, the 2022 season saw a huge increase in the number of initiates. A total of 79 529 initiates were admitted in various schools. The province unfortunately recorded 04 deaths during previous season. The challenge faced was the increase of illegal initiations schools.

A Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has been established and it consists of eight (8) members, including Senior Traditional Leaders and is led by Hosi Chauke. The PICC will ensure that all initiation schools are registered and meet the criteria. In collaboration with the Department of Health, traditional surgeons and caregivers are trained to enable them to perform their responsibilities and functions. There will be effective monitoring of initiation schools from the first day until the last day by departmental officials supported by the South African Police Services to shut down illegal schools.

Honourable Speaker, Section 16 of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act No. 3 of 2019 provides for the constitution and reconstitution of the traditional councils by 31 March 2023. To ensure compliance with the Act, the department developed and implemented a project plan. However, due to the challenges raised by traditional leaders in the country on the matter, the project has been put on hold to allow the sector to engage with the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders to address the concerns. The target of 31 March 2023 as envisaged in the Act will therefore not be met in the entire country.

Honourable Speaker,

Chapter 03 of the TKLA provides for the establishment of houses of traditional and Khoi-San leaders from national to the local level. The houses of traditional and Khoi-San leaders' function is to promote and enhance unity and understanding among traditional and Khoi-San leaders as well as advocate for support and needs required by institutions of traditional leaders to government. The houses also assist government to resolve, and disputes related to traditional leadership.

Honourable Speaker, I am proud to announce that elections were held to elect the Executive of the Provincial and Local House of Traditional Leaders as prescribed by section 27 of the Act. Hosi Ngove was elected as the Chairperson and Kgoshi Rammupudu as the Deputy Chairperson, together with an entire executive. The local houses also elected their executives. Please allow me to wish the leadership of the Houses well, as well as to reassure them of the commitment of the department, and the entire provincial government to join hands with them in pursuance of sustainable rural development.

In the same vein, we have also deployed our Senior Traditional Leaders to serve in the National House of Traditional Leaders, those are Thovhele Ratshibvumo II Rambuda, Ndavezitha Hosi Ntsanwisi and Kgoshikgadi Ntwampe.

 

Traditional Leadership disputes remain a thorny issue across the country. To uproot this thorn, our government is in the process of finalising the establishment of an investigative committee as prescribed by the TKLA to assist in investigating claims and disputes.

We are saddened by the passing on of our beloved Senior Traditional Leaders in the previous year. We have laid to rest Kgosi Nkosi P.J of Swazi-Mnyamane T.C, Kgosi Mohlala M.B of Tswako-Mohlala T.C, Kgosi Mampuru M.H of Babina Noko Ba Mamphela, Kgosi L.P Langa of Bakenberg T.C, and Thovhele Makuya Ronald of Makuya Traditional Council. May their Souls Rest in Peace.

Honourable Speaker;

In the 2022/23 financial year, the Premier of the province honourable Chupu Mathabatha approved the recognition of several new Senior Traditional Leaders. Senior Traditional leaders inaugurated include, Kgosi K.M Thobejane of Mafefe Traditional Council(TC), Acting Kgosi A.M Ledwaba of Ledwaba-Ndlovu T.C, Kgosi Sebela M.C of Sebela TC, Kgosi M.S Sekororo of Sekororo T.C, Kgoši Mogoboya M.J of Bahlabine, Hosi Ndengeza T.B of Ndengeza T.C, Hosi Nkanyani M.I of Nkanyani T.C, Khosi Khakhu N.V of Khakhu T.C, and Khosi Netshimbupfe Mulatedzi of Tshimbupfe T.C. As government, we salute them.

Honourable Speaker,

The Budget I am tabling today is composed of four components; Administration which is mainly support, Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In 2023/24 financial year, a total budget available for the department of CoGHSTA as allocated is R2 591,844 000.00 (2.6 billion), a slight decrease to the previous year budget of R2,615 772 000 (R2.6 billion: decrease by 0.91 %). The departmental budget allocation per programme is as follows:

• Administration: R384 625 000, (2022/23: R338 704) an increase of 13.56%),
• Human Settlements: R1 351 903 000, (2022/23: R1 455 579) a decrease of 7.12%),
• Cooperative Governance: R300 582 000, (2022/23: R290 005) an increase of 3.65%),
• Traditional Affairs: R554 734 000. (2022/23: R531 484 an increase of 4.37%).

As I conclude, may I also take this opportunity to express my most sincere gratitude to all contractors who voluntarily built houses to the needy in our province. We appeal for more contractors to come on board in our quest to alleviate the plight of the poor and needy. Once again, thank you for your generosity.

Let me also extend a word of gratitude to my family which gives me support at all material times and lastly to all CoGHSTA stakeholders and the entire CoGHSTA team collectively for steering this department forward.

The last organisational re-engineering process in the department was conducted in 2012. However, we then in 2021 finalized another organisational re-engineering process. The final organizational structure came with the birth of a new branch which is traditional affairs. Over and above, we are now able to fill vacancies and have appointed Head of Department, Dr Modjadji Malahlela from the 1st of January 2023, her appointment will assist to take the department forward and ensure speed implementation of programmes. Honorable Speaker, we have also appointed Deputy Director General, Mr Mokgala Moshweu under Integrated Sustainable Human Settlements and the Chief Financial Officer will resume in the next month.

The long journey of service delivery is endless. The covenant entered with the people of Limpopo will not despair.

Honourable Madam Speaker, once again it is my pleasure to present to you Budget vote 11 of the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Budget Vote for the year 2023/24.

Khani Mamba Thank you.