Billions of rands allocated for human settlements development in Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape MEC for Human Settlements, Ms Helen Sauls-August has announced that an amount of 2,297 ,933 rands will be spend on human settlements developments in the new financial year(2015/16). She was tabling the departmental budget and policy speech at the Provincial Legislature today.
The department’s Budget for creation of integrated and sustainable Human Settlements during 2015/16 comprises of the Human Settlements Development (Conditional) Grant, the Expanded Public Works Incentive Grant and the Equitable Share (Provincial) allocation.
A large portion of the budget will be spent on houses to be built in rural areas and Informal Settlements Upgrading. The remaining budget will be spent on building of 1 multi-purpose centre, 368 rental housing units, rectify 2 311 defective houses, install 10 231 basic services and issuing of 7 000 title deeds to beneficiaries.
From this budget a total of 6 1 58 housing units from the overall target of 13100 units will be built in rural areas. Some of the areas that stand to benefit from the Eastern side of the Province are Ntabankulu, Xhambeni, Zinyosini, Rhode, Maluti, Cancele, Tholeni, Qaukeni, Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Port St Johns. The department will also upgrade of 20 Informal Settlements this financial year, with 4 785 quality homes built during this financial year from the programme.
For Military veterans, 3 projects will be implemented this financial year in (OR Tambo 57, Chatty 68 units and Lukhanji (St Marks 200 units) for the approved beneficiaries. On Social housing for middle income earners, 368 rental units will be built in Fairview Link, Nelson Mandela metro.
The Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme has been enhanced to make owning a house much easier for potential homebuyers. The maximum prescribed property value will now be determined by the participating financial institutions and based on the income and credit profile of each applicant. 200 first home owners earning between R3501-R15 000 will be granted deposits to buy their first homes.
The department, in promotion of the agenda for localisation of suppliers and supporting local companies, can proudly proclaim that that 70% of all its tenders is allocated to local companies in the Province. It also exceeding 30% percent allocation of construction work to women contractors set by the National Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu.
“We are proud, as a department, to be entrusted with such a huge responsibility. We are equally excited to be associated with programmes that define the post-Apartheid geography in this country through reversing spatial inequities and urban deficiencies. We are willing to serve. With our development partners, we shall not fail in carrying forward the sustainable human settlements mandate and improve the quality of life of the people as envisaged by the Freedom Charter adopted by the majority people of this country in Kliptown in 1955. Voortwaards,” said Helen Sauls-August. The department has met the Annual Target of building 12979 housing units. These houses includes subsidies both in rural and urban areas.
Enquiries:
Lwandile Sicwetsha
Spokesperson
Cell: 071 671 1770
Twitter: @ecdhsnews
