Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has promised a new way in the delivery of housing.
Minister Sisulu was presenting to the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements her 100 days programme aimed at laying the basis for the acceleration of 1.5 million housing opportunities in the next five years.
“What we are presenting to you today is the framework in which we will build the foundation towards achieving our objectives on not only building houses for the poor but open the housing market for those whom are unable to access home loans and also do not qualify for free government houses,” said Sisulu.
She also announced that her department had signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) to create a credible waiting and beneficiary list data base.
“The creation of this reputable waiting list will assist us in ensuring that we remove from the list those who do not qualify or have received a house previously by linking this to the population register,” she said.
The Minister also indicated that her department has moved with speed towards meeting the 100-day target. This included meetings with the Chamber of Mines, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Banking Association and South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) amongst other stakeholders.
These stakeholder meetings will eventually culminate into a National Human Settlements Indaba scheduled for September 2014.
“I have interacted with a number of our stakeholders. Between 25 and 26 September we will all assemble under one roof at the National Human Settlements Indaba to deliberate on our challenges and possible solutions while committing ourselves towards the delivery of 1.5 million housing opportunities”, said the Minister.
The Minister added that she believed that at the end of the National Human Settlements Indaba all affected parties will emerge with a new Social Contract which seeks to forge partnership between Government and private sector.
Enquiries:
Bongani Mlangeni
Ministry of Human Settlements
Cell: 078 098 9301
