The programme director, Ms Gabi Gumbi-Masilela
The Mayor of eMnambithi Municipality, Councillor l Mazibuko
Councillors present
Representatives of local and provincial government
Members of the community
Today is an exciting day for the people of St Chads. Today you will receive a facility of significant value. It is time to celebrate this as it will make a difference to the way you live and conduct your business.
Before I talk about St. Chads let me share with you what the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements has been doing in KwaZulu-Natal. To date, our department has built over 500 000 houses in KwaZulu-Natal. There are even more to come. As I stand here talking to you, I can report that we have over 600 housing projects all over our province. These projects cover rental housing, rural housing projects, social housing, hostels and low-income housing.
Now let me tell you about the projects that the Department of Human Settlements is busy with in the eMnambithi Municipality listen carefully as I provide you with an update of the projects in your area.
I must however, sound a note of caution. If the uThukela District Municipality does not provide the necessary bulk infrastructure i.e. water, sanitation and roads, none of these projects can go ahead.
Housing initiatives in eMnambithi Municipality
Investment allocation
The department has invested R341 094 237 in the eMnambithi Municipality since inception of the low income housing initiatives. This excludes the recent approvals for storm damaged and rectification. The department is intending to invest a further sum of approximately R596 million for new projects over the medium term which includes the recently approved storm damaged and rectification initiatives.
The total number of houses built in this municipality is 10 793. Beneficiaries that are currently in receipt of housing opportunities in this municipal area are 13,749. Transfers that have been registered and title deeds handed over total 8,344.
Now I think the Department of Human Settlements deserve a round of applause for ensuring that over 10 000 families are housed.
The department will invest an amount of R20,844,121 for the 2011/12 financial year in the Emnambithi Municipality. This involves the delivery of 980 houses, 700 transfers and 100 subsidies.
Now we often hear that there is not enough being done in housing delivery.
In this municipality alone, these are the projects that we are involved with:
| Project name | Number of beneficiaries | Transferred to beneficiaries to date | Houses built to date | Project status |
| St Chads urban | 2500 | 213 | 2340 | IA committed to opening of township register and resolution of all transfers by 28 February 2011.This was not achieved and IA has been placed in breach. House construction is continuing. |
| St Chads rural | 544 | 0 | 475 | IA committed to opening of township register and resolution of transfers by 28 February2011. Municipality to resolve beneficiary allocations processes.This is not achievable and IA was placed in breach |
| Steadville Area | 967 | 967 | 967 | All houses are completed. Storm water channeling fo 28 sites requires completion.IA to provide programme of action for completion. |
| Total | 4011 | 1072 | 3166 |
|
Storm damaged/rectification projects
In addition to the above, the department has initiated special projects to deal with victims of storms. 610 houses were reconstructed for the victims of the December 2008 storms. The value of this work is estimated at a provisional amount of R35 milion.
The Emnambithi Municipality approached the department for assistance for areas affected by storms and poor living conditions, very small/defective structures, I then visited the area and approved the assistance, on 1 March 2010 for a provisional total of 6 042 beneficiaries to the value of R357 429 989.90
The Clearance of Slums projects within Emnambithi Municipality
The St. Chads and Umbulwane slums projects totaling 3060 units have been identified and are to be cleared by 2014 at a cost of R134 million.
Housing for vulnerable groups
The department has provided accommodation for vulnerable groups within the Colenso area where 113 beds have been provided, catering for 100 children and 13 house mothers. This project is now complete.
Ensuring quality control
There are 13 projects comprising of 3 100 sites nearing completion in the Emnambithi Municipality for which the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) has to assess the quality. I will not tolerate houses falling apart under my watch. Before a house can be handed over, it must have the stamp of approval of the NHBRC.
Storm damaged houses
We have a total of 3 270 houses that were damaged with a total cost of R188, 219, 466.90. These houses are in Peacetown, Emoba, Colenso, Burford, Roosboom, Driefontein etc.
In January this year, the Premier – Dr Zweli Mkhize, National Minister of Human Settlements, Minister- Mr Tokyo Sexwale and myself visited residents of Tembalihle here in Ladysmith whose homes were storm damaged. Right now even as we are here, there are a team of contractors who are hard at work in parts of our province rebuilding and repairing homes that have been damaged or destroyed by disasters. As a department we are committed to making sure that we attend to the damage caused by storms quickly so that people can get on with their lives with shelter over their heads.
Rectification
To rebuild 2 772 houses of poor quality it is going to cost in the region of R159 million. This money should be used for building new houses, not fixing the old ones. The message is clear, if a contractor builds a house of poor quality, he will not be paid and will be made to fix that house at his own cost. Further the NHBRC will take the necessary action to ensure that this contractor does not repeat this anywhere else in the province.
St. Chads
Today is also a day for government to celebrate with the people of St Chads. As the Department of Human Settlements we have delivered. Our mandate is to deliver sustainable human settlements. This concept came about in 2009, when we changed our name from the Department of Housing to the Department of Human Settlements. This means that no more we can build houses in the middle of nowhere. A sustainable human settlement must be close to shops, where people can find work, children can go to school, and primary health care must be available like clinics and/or hospitals and where people have access to their homes via decent roads. More importantly there must be water and sanitation. In order for a community to develop, people must have a place to hold meetings and workshops. Having such a facility, means we have come a long way.
This government, led by the African National Congress has delivered such a facility.
Today I am pleased to be here with you, to officially open the St. Chads Social Amenities project, knowing that this community will greatly benefit from such a facility.
This project commenced in April 2008 and was recently completed. The St. Chads social amenities complex comprises of a large sports field where children and youth can play and train. We hope to see future soccer stars who will play in the Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana teams coming from here. There is a community hall where you can have your meetings, hold workshops and run developmental programs. While you are at work, you can rest assured that your children are at the community creche safe from harm.
We as government are serious about the economic development of communities and the creation of work opportunities, skills development and jobs. St. Chads has a business centre which also includes a fully fitted bakery. The business centre is made up of six units each measuring 60m² with a mezzanine floor for office /storage and also incorporates a kitchen area and toilet facilities. We would like to see this space put to good use. We would like to see services being offered here that will greatly benefit the community of St Chads.
The centre is also very attractive and is designed with a high proportion of face brick in the external finishes to be a low maintenance complex. The face brick further enhances the appearance of the building with the landscape. All this cost a total of………………..
All of this is in line with what our President, President Zuma, has told us we, as government must do. We must make sure that we deliver services to our people, people must have housing, schools and access to health and very importantly we must try to create jobs and work opportunities. You will find, whenever there is a human settlement project, there will be work for people. Our president has said that we must create jobs and work opportunities for our people and that is what we will do. Now before I leave you, I would like to say the St. Chads Social and Economic Amenties project is yours, put it to good use, make the most of the opportunities it offers you and very importantly take care of it. It is for you, the community.
Working together we can do more.
Thank you.
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements and Public Works
