Remarks by the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, SA-Kenya welcome luncheon, Freedom Park, Pretoria, 13 December 2023
Her Excellency Honourable Alice Wahome, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Lands,
Public Works, Housing and Urban Development,
Ms Pam Tshwete, Deputy Minister of Human Settlements in South Africa,
Ms Ngaka Dumalisile, Acting Director General in the Department of Human Settlements,
Mr Charles Hinga Mwaura, Principal Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development,
Chairpersons of the Boards and CEO’s on Human Settlements Entities,
Business Leaders from Kenya and South Africa,
Property Developers,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Afternoon,
Let me start by welcoming Her Excellency Alice Wahome, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development and her delegation to our beautiful country and specifically to the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum. This
heritage site best symbolises the struggle for humanity and freedom. This place was designed and curated as a spiritual place for healing and cleansing of the spirits of people who fought for freedom. Beyond capturing the pain and the triumphs of the struggle
against apartheid, it also tells the story of South Africa’s history and culture from long ago until today. Freedom Park challenges all of us to always think about how we are contributing to a change for the betterment of our people and humanity as a whole.
Your Excellency, I believe that the work that we do, that of creating human settlements that brings dignity and better economic opportunities for our people, is also an important part of the change for the betterment of the lives of our people. The cooperation between our two countries goes beyond what our portfolios. It is not only a country to country bilateral but a manifestation of the road to total African unity in terms of people-to-people relations, political unity, increased investments within the continent and expanded trade relations including the acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade relations.
South Africa and Kenya have enjoyed a long standing and cordial relationship in the implementation of Africa’s urban agenda. As leading economies in their respective regions, South Africa and Kenya have an increasingly leading role in the continental
developmental agenda. Both our countries are seeking to facilitate people - public - private partnerships in the development of affordable housing.
President Ramaphosa undertook a State Visit to Kenya in November 2022, and as the Minister of Human Settlements, I was part of the delegation supporting the programme.
During that visit, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding between South Africa and Kenya, with my then counterpart, in the area of Housing and Human Settlements.
The two Heads of State, President Ruto and President Ramaphosa, welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and declared that the two countries would be working together to respond to the pressing housing shortages in both Kenya and
South Africa. President Ruto issued a public invitation to South African business in the Affordable Housing value chain to explore Affordable Housing development opportunities in Kenya. President Ramaphosa committed that the South Africa government would, as part of this cooperation, coordinate the affordable housing sector to take advantage of this invitation from the Kenyan government and ensure that this is a mutually beneficial cooperation for the two countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding creates a formal basis for the exchange of knowledge and expertise in policy, regulatory and institutional arrangements, as well as technical support for the creation of sustainable human settlements. This cooperation is
an important agreement that is aligned to Kenya’s Priority Development Agenda and South Africa’s commitment to disrupting the apartheid spatial configuration. The cooperation agreement formalises the relationship between the two governments and facilitates mutual exchanges in the development of housing development opportunities.
In these two days that Your Excellency and your delegation will be here, we will explore and drill down to the technical contours on the areas of cooperation, investment opportunities and business to business relations. This will culminate in the establishment
of the South Africa – Kenya Affordable Housing Forum and structures the participation of the private sector. This will help us to create networks and realise the full potential of the relationship between South Africa and Kenya through unlocking the delivery of affordable housing. Moreover, the outcome of the visit will be an agreed work plan to actualise the Memorandum of Understanding.
The work plan, over the next two year, includes a reciprocal visit to Kenya and the second Affordable Housing Forum in Kenya.
The business-to-business relations will also be strengthened during this visit, and we look forward to fruitful engagements between our two business delegations. Addressing the shortage of affordable housing will require delivery of housing projects at scale, which is possible through collaboration of the affordable housing actors, which include government, developers, contractors and financiers. Thus, the participation of the private sector in the engagements is fundamental to the success of our bilateral relationship.
As I conclude, I noted with keen interest that Her Excellency and I have something in common, we share a passion for women empowerment and upliftment. Part of her biography states that she actively promoted affirmative action from 1999 to 2001, while
serving as Vice-Chairperson of the FIDA Council, a prominent women’s rights organisation. Women empowerment and participation in the human settlements sector is an area in which we take very seriously in South Africa. In this regard, we have as a policy
initiative, set aside 40% of our total expenditure for women-owned businesses. We monitor its implementation to ensure that there is compliance across all provinces and our entities.
As we forge these relations between our two countries in affordable housing, we should be mindful that women participation in all these initiatives is absolutely necessary. I am quite certain that Her Excellency will also be driving the same agenda from her side and leave no stone unturned to ensure women come on board.
Let me take this opportunity to welcome you again to our country and wish you a very fruitful and successful visit.
I thank you
