Government and Traditional Affairs at the National Rural Housing Conference,
East London
10 May 2007
Mayor for Buffalo City
Ministers for Housing, Land Affairs and Department of Provincial and Local
Government
MEC of Portfolio Committees National and Provincial House
Traditional Leadership National and Provincial House
Mayors
Councillors
Colleagues
Ladies and gentlemen
"Social Contract for Integrated Human Settlement in Rural Housing
Delivery"
The Eastern Cape province is indeed unique. In as much as we have extremely
beautiful natural resources and a rich and vibrant heritage we have also
inherited a legacy of poverty and underdevelopment. The province reflects most
starkly the two economies which has entrenched itself in the eastern and
western parts of the province. The Western Part reflects development and
relative wealth whilst the East reflects large scale poverty and
underdevelopment. It is not coincidental that these economies mimic the pre
1994 demarcations and boundaries.
Many parts of our province and particularly the East (Mthatha) are home to
communities living in poverty and hardship. Much of our province is rural in
nature which requires creative problem-solving approaches. Even though we have
had programmes such as Urban Renewal (UR) and Integrated Sustainable Rural
Development (ISRDP) we still have much to do in the way of providing basic
services to these areas.
Rural communities and housing for these communities must be seen within the
context of local economic development. A house with a value attached to it has
the potential to be an economic multiplier for those who own them. It provides
infrastructure for stimulating small businesses or similar endeavours. The
October 2006 Provincial Housing Indaba attempted to engage issues relating to
housing delivery within rural contexts and resolved that a Provincial Rural
Housing Summit should be convened to thrash out these complexities with
intention to inform provincial and national policy development.
Rural Housing cuts to the heart of the new South Africa. It requires us to
grapple with complex issues in a pragmatic way in order to best serve our
communities. Traditional responses to housing development have so far fallen
short in its efforts to address rural housing. The following issues reflect
this view:
A huge challenge for rural housing is the issue of land tenure. In rural
areas there is often only a permission to occupy land and not ownership. Within
the current housing subsidy system we are only able to provide financing in
instances where there is uncontested ownership of land. Outstanding land claims
also play a role in frustrating efforts to determine ownership and hence rural
housing is delayed.
It is common knowledge that in the so-called rural areas, communities
themselves have, since time immemorial, assumed responsibility for provision of
shelter and other basic services, making use of available natural resources.
Government development policy and planning have always been criticised of
disregarding societal indigenous knowledge, in the efforts of meeting
overwhelming development needs of the people. Housing delivery has not been an
exception, since it has always been challenged to consider:
The types and size of product envisaged for delivery:
* the type of structure and services (Taking into cognisance preservation of
cultural heritage)
* the type of construction material prevalent in a particular area.
Current norms and standards are not sensitive to the rural dynamic. This
area would require intense public participation of communities concerned
including traditional authorities. Economic development efforts can be enhanced
by giving attention to skills generated by and inherent in, decisions and
activities surrounding housing supply and demand in rural communities. Capacity
of traditional leaders to participate meaningfully in sustainable rural housing
development requires attention.
The ability of rural economies to attract and retain skills cannot be
overlooked. The role of Institutions of Higher Learning and Further Education
and Training Colleges to generate the required level and quality of skills for
housing development within rural contexts is challenged.
Within rural areas land tenure which is in terms of the traditional system
of land allocation (permission to occupy) does not provide sufficient security
of tenure to financial institutions, for them to be able to provide mortgage
bonds to rural people for home financing. If we are to stimulate rural
development in line with the ISRDP and similar programmes we need to resolve
these issues. The challenges that I have sketched above are but some of the
issues we need to spend our time debating and reaching conclusions on. We there
look forward to ensuring that we:
1. review the current rural environment
2. fast-track housing delivery in rural areas
3. identify and remove problem areas, and identify areas of opportunity within
rural housing
4. create dialogue between the different role players in rural housing
development
5. identify the potential contributions that can be made by different role
players in this sector
6. commit or bind all relevant role players to making a meaningful contribution
to rural housing within the country.
I want to urge all of us here today to really get to grips with the issues
facing rural housing. As stakeholders we are all party to the social contract
that we are here to conclude with one another. We owe it to the many families
and communities who live in trying conditions and who depend on us to provide
the opportunity for a better life.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs,
Eastern Cape Provincial Government
10 May 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
