Billions spent on Human Settlements delivery in EC
The Provincial Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements has spent an amount of R14 495 374 billion building 64 917 new houses between 2011 until the end of March 2016.
MEC Helen Sauls-August released the five year performance report to mark the end of the five year local government term this year. “As we conclude the 5 year local government term this year, it was incumbent on us to take stock of what has been achieved by the department within the local government sphere.
During electioneering season, human settlements delivery becomes a focal point of electioneering and mostly used to garner votes even to the extent of misrepresenting the facts of what the department has done to fulfil its mandate, said MEC Helen Sauls-August.”
The quality of the houses has improved, as well as the spending on the conditional grant from which have spent 100 percent for four years. Service delivery highlights as follows between 2011- 2016:
- 34 599 title deeds were issued to beneficiaries to confirm their home ownership and security of tenure.
- 1 945 social rental units delivered
- 53 870 services installed
- 1 264 of land acquired for human settlements development
- 77 449 subsidies approved
- 21 688 defective houses rectified for pre 1994 and post 1994 until 2004 period.
- 87 715 jobs were created.
The department has made remarkable strides and built thousands of houses for poor people, we are concerned that many of our approved beneficiaries still linger in shacks, backyard dwellings whilst their completed houses are occupied by other people not originally approved for those houses.
“Housing Corruption manifesting in any form that robs people of their homes is a counter-revolutionary act that puts a blemish on the high delivery performance of the department,” she said.
In an effort to protect integrity of beneficiary list, the department has also submitted draft By-laws to COGTA to ensure protection of constitutional rights of people residing within the municipalities relating to adequate housing. Municipal Councils must now follow due process to ensure ultimately adoption of these bylaws.
“Municipalities must lead in enforcing the credibility of beneficiary lists through a council resolution and encourage transparency in the allocation of houses. All municipalities are expected to establish housing allocations committees whose responsibility will be to ensure there is fairness and transparency on the allocation of houses amongst different groups taking into account gender, youth, women and other vulnerable groups,” she added.
Full report is available on the departmental website: www.ecdhs.gov.za
Enquiries:
Lwandile Sicwetsha
Tel: 043 711 9679
E-mail: lwandiles@ecdhs.gov.za
