14 November 2006
North West Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Developmental
Local Government and Housing is headed on a study tour to the Netherlands from
17 to 26 November 2006. The delegation will be headed by the Honourable Leroi
Mahlakeng Mahlakeng (Chairperson). He will be accompanied by the Honourable
Boitumelo Tshwene, Veronica Kekesi, Louisa Molema, Sam Mokaila, Dr Matlholwa,
Andrew Gerber and Ms Kabira Akoob (Committee Administrator).
The purpose of this study tour is for the committee to gain a wider, more
varied understanding of the effective housing delivery that has taken place in
the Netherlands; understand and learn form the housing policies and strategies;
understand government provision of housing to their communities; understand the
challenges on matters relating to land and how government has handled it; learn
better strategies in infrastructure and economic development; understand the
dynamics around the provisioning of houses to the poor, the aged and rural
communities; understand the role of national government versus municipalities
and or within municipalities, the provision of housing versus our situation
where they are national and provincial responsibilities only, and to visit
housing projects in urban and rural areas. Their main destination is The
Hague.
"We are excited and honestly believe that this study tour will improve the
capacity of the members of the committee and the Legislature as a whole to
carry out their constitutional responsibilities," said leader of the
delegation, Honourable Mahlakeng Mahlakeng.
A draft itinerary is attached:
Itinerary (Please note that this is a draft only)
Friday, 17 November 2006
Departure from Johannesburg to Amsterdam
Saturday, 18 November 2006
Arrival at Amsterdam, Schiphol International Airport
Delegation to be met at the airport by an embassy official
Proceed to hotel
Sunday, 19 November 2006
Light tourism activities - Panorama Mesdag - Zeestraat 65 - Admission:
�5,00
Opening Time: Sunday 12h00 to 17h00: Mauritshuis � Korteviverberg � Vredepaleis
- Binnehof
Monday, 20 November 2006
09h00: Departure of delegation to South African Embassy
Meeting with the Ambassador, Ms HB Mkhize
Venue: 40 Wasenaarseweg, The Hague
Contact person: Ms Carla Dormehl
Tel: (070) 392 4501
Meeting with Speaker of Parliament and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary
Committee on Housing
Tuesday, 21 November 2006
10h00: Departure from hotel to "Woonconcept" (Housing Association in rural
areas/small town)
Address: Blankenstein 560, Meppel
Contact person: Mr Harm de Groot
Tel: (052) 223 7300
12h30: Arrival at Woonconcept in Meppel
Welcome by Mr Harm de Groot, Deputy Director and Manager Strategy and Policy of
"Woonconcept"; proceed to conference room
12h45: Presentation on policy and low-cost housing provision by "Woonconcept,"
by Mr Harm de Groot, followed by discussions, during informal lunch hosted by
Woonconcept
14h00: Departure for project visits in/near Meppel, including projects for
housing of disabled and elderly people
17h00: End of project visits and return to hotel in The Hague
Wednesday, 22 November 2006
09h00: Departure from hotel to Aedes (the National Federation of Housing
Associations in the Netherlands) and DIGH (Dutch International Guarantees for
Housing)
Common address: Olympia one, Hilversum
Contact persons: Ms Laura Weiland and/or Ms Louisa Verhulst
Tel: (035) 626 8383/ (065) 207 7749
10h50: Arrival at Aedes/ DIGH
Welcome by Ms Laura Weiland/ Louisa Verhulst
Proceed to conference room
11h00: Presentations on scope of work of Aedes by Mr Mark van der Hiel and Mr
Rob Ravestein (Aedes) and of DIGH by Mr Eric Beijer
12h30: Lunch, hosted by Aedes/ DIGH
Departure for housing project visits
End of project visits, and return to hotel
Arrival at hotel
Informal participation in special public televised gathering of the Party for
Freedom and Democracy (VVD) for first incoming results of national
parliamentary elections, held at Madurodam
Address: George Maduroplein one, The Hague.
Thursday, 23 November 2006
09h30: Departure to the National Ministry of Housing
Address: Rijnstraat eight, The Hague
09h45: Arrival at the Ministry of Housing
Welcome by Mr Hubert van Eyk
Tel: (070) 339 2299
Proceed to conference room
10h00: Welcoming words by Deputy Director-General of Housing, Mr Bert van
Delden, and Cluster Manager Urban Regeneration, Ms Yvonne Verzijden
10h10: Presentation on national (social) housing situation and central
government policy in the Netherlands by Mr Hubert van Eyk on land policy by Mr.
Dirk de Klerk, followed by discussions
11h00: Presentation on scope of work of Association of Netherlands
Municipalities (VNG) and role of municipalities in the provision of (social)
housing in the Netherlands
11h30: Discussions
11h45: End of discussions and proceed to VIP room
12h00: Lunch hosted by the Netherlands Ministry of Housing in VIP room.
Invited are: Mr AT (Bert) van Delden, Deputy Director-General of Housing;
Ministry of Housing; eight members of delegation of North West Provincial
Legislature Portfolio Committee on Local Government and Housing; Mr ND
Sebothoma, Counsellor Bilateral, South African embassy in The Hague; Rep. of
Association of Netherlands Municipalities; Rep. of Aedes; Rep. of DIGH; Rep. of
housing association Woonconcept; Mr Thomas Berghuis, political adviser to the
Minister; Ms Yvonne Verzijden, Ministry of Housing; Mr Dirk de Klerk, Ministry
of Housing; Mr Hubert van Eyk, Ministry of Housing.
Friday, 24 November 2006
Morning or afternoon to be reserved temporarily for part of programme that
might have to be rescheduled.
Saturday, 25 November 2006
Return to South Africa
Issued by: North West Legislature, North West Provincial Government
14 November 2006
