North West councilors from various local municipalities across the province have applauded the Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison for the implementation of In-situ upgrading housing programme in the rural areas of the province.
This came during the recent councilors training programme on Human Settlements organised by the department in partnership with the National Department of Human Settlements and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
The training was designed to capacitate councilors as housing ambassadors to their respective communities and further in resolving problems in housing projects within their respective municipalities.
Councilors present at the training outlined housing projects’ challenges they are faced with in their different municipalities.
According to the councillors, the In-situ Upgrading programme is improving living conditions as the settlement is upgraded in its existing location.
The departmental MEC, Nono Maloyi said his department will continue fighting poverty in the rural areas by providing quality houses through this programme. “Most of our people in the rural areas have sites and the In-situ is the best to provide those people with houses more especially for those who live in shacks and mud houses,” said Maloyi.
MEC encouraged councillors to be hands on in housing delivery projects taking place in their respective municipalities.
“Councillors must play a significant role in housing projects taking place in their areas because they are a link between government and the people we serve, they are the ones who are supposed to ensure a successful run of projects and work hand-in-hand with our inspectors for the purpose of quality in the houses built by contractors appointed.”
He said the programme has a greater chance of protecting and enhancing local livelihoods, as well as integrating settlement into the broader area.
The In-situ Upgrading is one of the programmes introduced by the Department of Human Settlements to increase the delivery of houses in addressing poverty alleviations mainly in the rural areas.
The programme has decreased a number of challenges emanating from the most worrying land scarcity, illegal occupation and vandalism which the department, mostly come across throughout housing delivery projects.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
North West councilors applaud In-situ housing programme in rural areas
Province
