Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements completes day one of public hearings
The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has successfully completed the first round of public hearings on the Rental Housing Amendment Bill.
“Today, we listened to inputs from the public with regards to the Rental Housing Amendment Bill. This process is a constitutional obligation of Parliament in ensuring public participation in every legislative process,” said Ms Nomhle Dambuza, Chairperson of the Committee. The Committee started its first day of public hearings on the Rental Housing Amendment Bill by receiving presentations from various stakeholders in the sector.
Ms Dambuza said the public participation process was a mechanism that the Committee took seriously; hence individuals and organisations had been invited to make oral submissions based on the written inputs that had been received.
The Bill seeks to amend the Rental Housing Act, 1999, so as to substitute and insert certain definitions; to set out the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords in a coherent manner; to require leases to be in writing; to require MECs to establish Rental Housing Tribunals; to extend the powers of the Rental Housing Tribunals; to provide for an appeal process; to require all local municipalities to have Rental Housing Information Offices; to provide for norms and standards related to rental housing; to extend o4ffences; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
The Bill was promulgated in 1999 and amended in 2007. “This time the Bill has been expanded, the main reason is because the Committee undertook oversight visits where we listened to the community on rental problems and challenges that are experienced on the ground. That is why the Committee approached government to extend the principal Act based on the grievances and experiences from people,” said Ms Dambuza.
Ms. Dambuza appreciated and welcomed presentations and contributions from the public. “We have read through all the submissions as the Committee, they are genuine comments and we are committed to having genuine discussions around issues that have been brought forward,” she said.
The public hearings continue tomorrow.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Yoliswa Landu
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 073 738 0182
Tel: 021 403 8203
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
