Two government families came together on 10 September 2010 to create one united family that is set to change the landscape of service delivery.
The two families, the departments of Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, exchanged their vows in Johannesburg in a historical joint MINMEC.
The meeting was presided over by Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka.
"The 'marriage' was born out of the 2010 Cabinet Lekgotla, which resolved that our two departments should be responsible for two key outcomes: outcome eight and outcome nine."
As a result, Minister Sexwale dubbed the cooperative arrangement the "Class of 8/9".
Out of outcome eight: four outputs were identified:
- accelerated delivery of housing opportunities
- upgrading of 400 000 households in informal settlements
- affordable rental housing stock 20 000 units per annum
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- access to basic services
- National Bulk Infrastructure programme and increased access to basic services
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- more efficient land utilisation
- acquisition of 6250 hectares (net) state owned land
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- improved property market
- supply affordable housing finance to 600 000 households
Out of outcome nine: four outputs were identified:
- implement a differentiated approach to municipal financing, planning and support
- improving access to basic services
- actions supportive of the human settlement outcome
- increased densities in metros and large towns
- facilitation of land acquisition for low affordable housing
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- single window of coordination
- local government policy and legislation reviewed and amended
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"The key words in making this marriage work are coordination, cooperation and integration," Minister Sexwale said.
"As we do so, we should build on the synergies that already exist between myself and Minister Shiceka."
The director-generals of the two departments are already working on implementation plans for the two outcomes, which will be finalised by the end of September.
Source: Department of Human Settlements
