Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Mogale City
MMCs present
Councillors
Leadership from Arrow Creek (Pty) LTD and Blue Print Joint Venture
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is a very wonderful day when we meet to deliver much expected hope and human settlement opportunities to people of Mogale City. As a department we always willing extend our hand to the private sector to seek partnerships that will help in significantly changing the lives of our people. This occasion here today marks that kind of a relationship, the kind of a relationship which is based on the mutual desire to ensure that people of Gauteng live in proper and comfortable homes. I am very elated, and I also take this opportunity to welcome all our special guests to this event.
Programme director recently in her state of the province address, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane reiterated the Gauteng Government’s commitment to changing the face of Gauteng. Human settlement is one of the key needs for the people of Gauteng, and through various housing typologies we have been able to respond successfully to this immense challenge. These typologies include social housing, mixed housing, community residential units (formerly known as hostels), low income housing, fully subsidised homes (RDPs) and through urban renewal programmes.
Our success in these housing typologies depends largely on the availability of land, something that is scarce and expensive in Gauteng. As the Premier said, Gauteng government we will continue to identify and procure well-located land that will be closer to places of work whilst boasting the very best amenities. To this end the Premier has pledged R240 million towards the acquisition of 15 properties which are well-located for low income and affordable housing.
I remember vividly how the Premier expressed her excitement of the success of our housing policy in eradicating apartheid spatial planning and ensuring social cohesion. The Premier said, and I quote “We can confidently demonstrate that our human settlements policy is living up to its objectives. We now have residential areas that are non-racial, with mixed income groups and within their vicinity all residents have access to amenities like schools, clinics, shopping complexes and crèches. In Chief Mogale in Kagiso township, Thandiswa’s grandparents have as their neighbours Mr and Mrs Griesel, who have moved from Krugersdorp town to live in Kagiso.” unqoute.
It this therefore befitting that we come to the very same area of Mogale City to launch a project that will further advance these gigantic gains we have so proudly made. Through integrated mixed housing developments, we are finally realising the vision of the founders of our liberation movement which was to ensure a South African society that is non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous.
Coincidentally, this event takes place in a very important month of March. In South Africa, we use this month to celebrate Human Rights and commemorate in particular the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in which more than 60 unarmed black people were shot and killed by apartheid forces.
We use this month also to re-inculcate to every citizen of this great nation the values and spirit of ubuntu that former President Mandela bestowed on us. We were taught not to ignore the cries of poor people, not to turn a blind eye on the plight of disadvantaged among us and always to be of service to the people of South Africa. Housing is one the basic human rights, and through the provision of homes to the citizens, we are responding positively to this undeniable right.
Through partnerships and initiatives such as Mogale Junction, the government and private sector are able to provide better and affordable houses. In partnership with Mogale Junction Social Housing Project, we will provide shelter to 1590 families and of that total 480 units will target the primary market with an income of below R3500 per month as per Social Housing Act.
Phase 1 has been approved and consists of 770 units, and 231 of those units will target the primary market. As this project was initially converted from a training centre to a retirement village, the unit sizes above do not necessarily correspond with that normally associated with a social housing development, but it is our believe that the above sizes will add more value to this being a social housing development.
Programme Director, as governments across Africa accelerate programmes of extending the rollout process to provide services to communities, we are aware that such a programme can only be sustained in conditions of robust economic growth.
Consequently, in our case as South Africa, we have insisted that service provision must be underpinned by the following principles:
(a) Service providers must be accountable to the people they serve: whether it is public or the private sector, mechanisms must be put in place to enhance consumer care.
(b) Provision of infrastructure must be sustainable: key to infrastructure provision is the sustainability consideration, which ensures that services are extended to all sectors of the population and that the revenues obtained will allow for the continued operation and maintenance of the service at an agreed upon level and standard.
(c) Equitable coverage: we have through our policies ensured that services are extended as fast as possible to historically disadvantaged sectors of the population in the most affordable manner.
(d) Service providers must adhere to sound environmental principles: we have stipulated stringent requirements to ensure that service delivery does not cause the degradation of the environment.
(e) Development impact should be maximised: The development impact of projects should be maximised. Therefore, in designing their infrastructure service – delivery programmes, municipalities, must consider factors such as job creation, development of entrepreneurs, and a transfer of skills to communities.
Programme Director and esteemed guests, allow me once more to thank the organisers and the partners, Arrow Creek (Pty) LTD and Blue Print Joint Venture, for inviting me to address this very important event. A sincere word of thanks to all of you, for your willingness to contribute towards changing the lives of our people for the better. Your initiative will add immensely to our ability to propel our country and our continent towards the pinnacle of prosperity.
I thank you all.
