Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has called on the Department of Human Settlements to strengthen its beneficiary management of people waiting to be allocated subsidy houses.
This was during the department’s annual report presentation to the Committee. Committee Chairperson, Ms Nomhle Dambuza said that in its current form the management of the beneficiary list was not ideal, as it was not properly managed.
The committee has thus recommended that structures such as the housing forum needed to be revived as to ensure the participation of the community in the coordination and management of the beneficiary list.
The housing forum will include all stakeholders, such as municipality, the department and community structures.
Ms Dambuza said that a properly managed beneficiary list would eliminate suspicion of fraud and corruption as it would encourage transparent and participatory processes.
She stated that during the committee’s recent oversight visit to the Eastern Cape it transpired that the implementing agents were also in charge of the beneficiary list which led to the list being manipulated, thus leaving out some eligible beneficiaries out of the list.
Ward councillors also complained to the committee that in most cases they did not even know that there was a beneficiary list in their wards, and were thus unable to address questions about allocation of houses as they were not involved.
“People on the ground are complaining that sometimes they get removed from the list unknowingly and as a result of this they are getting frustrated,” she said.
The committee urged the department to embark on an intensified awareness campaign on who qualifies for a housing subsidy. The committee advised the department to strengthen their communication strategy and use the relevant medium to respective communities. The department should also provide assistance and advice to those that don’t qualify to explore other options provided by government such as social rental stock.
The department admitted that there shortcomings with the manner the beneficiary list was managed and that is why they are currently establishing the National Housing Demand Database, which will assist in tracking beneficiaries.
The department conceded they would utilise advice from the committee.
However the committee applauded the department for drafting a framework that will assist the department in ensuring that they smoothly move from providing just housing but create integrated and sustainable human settlements.
The framework is envisaged to ensure that all departments work together towards achieving the national objective of sustainable human settlements.
Enquiries:
Kanyisa Ndyondya
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 084 271 8116
E-mail: kndyondya@parliament.gov.za
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
15 October 2009
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za/live/index.php)
