In a bid to rid the province of poorly built houses and other infrastructure services, Human Settlements MEC Violet Siwela wants the Department to reduce work of all inept contractors. Officials who have been found to be colluding with contractors will equally be dealt with.
The department’s management, stakeholders such as housing associations, sector departments and field specialists are concretising plans for the 2014/15 financial year and developing plans for the next five years (2015 - 2020).
Addressing a three day Strategic Planning Session at White River, MEC Siwela charges that the department is required to deliver quality services to communities in an integrated and sustainable manner to achieve coordinated development. Until recently, the department has experienced challenges regarding delivery of quality houses and other infrastructure services. “Contractors who are not performing will be looked at, talk to them objectively and reduce their work where there is poor performance,” submitted MEC Siwela.
The department is mandated to coordinate the establishment of integrated sustainable human settlements. This refers to well-managed settlements in which economic growth and social development are in balance with the carrying capacity of the natural systems. The creation of integrated human settlements advocates that people must have access to all basic services and social amenities within their area of residence.
As a central and key driver of development, the department will have to, amongst others, focus on rural development through the support of cooperatives. “The Department has a role to uplift cooperatives by developing plans and innovations to assist them get into the mainstream economy,” continued MEC Siwela.
The session also heard that the department has to improve on planning and project management. The department has planned to progressively establish 10 new integrated human settlements, support municipalities with bulk water and sanitation infrastructure and deliver 7 755 housing opportunities with R1.380 billion for the 2014/15 financial year.
Enquiries:
Freddy Ngobe
Tel: 013 766 6014
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