Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable Premier, Ms Noxolo Kiviet
My Colleagues in the Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Honourable Executive Mayors and Mayors
ANC leadership and Alliance Partners
Esteemed Traditional Leaders
Our Social Partners
Senior Officials in Government and the Private Sector
Distinguished guests
Comrades and friends
Ladies and gentlemen
1. Introduction
Thank you, Hounourable Speaker and Members for giving me this opportunity to share with the people of the Eastern Cape our performance as a Department against the commitments we made in our 2010/11 Policy and Budget Speech as well as our programme of action (POA) for the 2011/12 financial year, in a quest to improve the lives of our people through the creation of Integrated and Sustainable Human Settlements.
I will briefly proceed to outline the achievements we have accomplished, challenges we have encountered as we traversed this arduous road, as well as our responses to those challenges.
I will conclude by presenting the policy and programme priorities the department will pursue during 2011/12 financial year. But before I do that let me briefly sketch the context. The 2011/12 Policy and budget Speech takes place at a time where there are many important historical developments taking place in our country, namely:
- 2011 being declared by his Excellency, President Jacob Zuma, in his State of the Nation Address, as the year for “Job creation ”
- In her 2011 State of the Province Address, Honourable Premier, Mrs Noxolo Kiviet reaffirmed the President’s call for Job creation and she outlined the important role the Department of Human Settlements should play in contributing to Job creation in the province.
- February 2011 marked 21 years since Former President Nelson Mandela was released from prison;
- We are on the eve of the fourth Local Government Elections to be held on 18 May 2011. Experience has taught us that human settlements is often used for narrow opportunitistic political gains during the election period. We would like to urge our fellow citizens to exercise restraint in this regard and not play with people’s feelings and suffering.
- On 27 April we will be celebrating 17 years of freedom and democracy;
- June 26 - marks the 56th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, a key founding document of South Africa’s democratic Constitution. Its housing clause states without any equivocation that : “There shall be houses, security and comfort for all… All people shall have the right to live where they choose, to be decently housed, and to bring up their families in comfort and security. Slums shall be demolished and new suburbs built where all shall have transport, roads, lighting, playing fields, crèches and social centres.”
- We are also pleased with the development that in the province we will have a 2nd Metropolitan Municipality namely, Buffalo City. This is striking our department positively and resonates well with our efforts of building capacity within municipalities and we trust that Buffalo City Municipality will become a strategic ally in propelling human settlements to the next level. We are excited by the announcement by the National Minister that the Nelson Mandela Metro has been accredited to a level 2 status, meaning they have been delegated more functions and responsibilities for human settlements development.
Honourable Speaker, let me begin by outlining the2010/11 human settlements policy priorities presented to this House last year which were linked to the Outcomes 8 whose objective is: Sustainable Human Settlements and Improved Quality of Household Life and how we have performed against these priorities, namely:
- Accelerate delivery of housing opportunities
- More efficient land utilisation
- Improved Property Market
- Access to basic services
- Rural settlements development
Honourable Speaker and Members in support of these policy and delivery imperatives, I wish to report the department’s performance against the previous financial year targets as follows:
2. Achievemnt against targets
Honourable Speaker, in terms of meeting our objective of acceleration of housing opportunities the department has completed 8 274 housing units and 14 443 are at advanced stages of construction.
As Honourable Members may note, the state of our housing outputs remain low considering this time of the financial year and triggers a constant concern not only for the House but for us in the department as well. Concerns about low delivery output have been taken to heart.
Honourable Speaker, we believe that it would be remiss of us not to highlight some of the fundamental constraints that inhibit sustainable human settlements. This House will recall that the department has on numerous occasions indicated the misalignment of the Equitable Share budget with the Conditional Grant allocation. This remains an area of serious concern to the department as it impacts negatively on essential operational activities that have a direct bearing on the Conditional Grant.
This is particularly constraining the department in embracing its expanded mandate.
Of equal concern are blockages in Supply Chain Management and Contracts Management, inability of contractors to meet construction targets which affect every step of the human settlements delivery chain and recycling of beneficiaries resulting in housing outputs becoming a moving target as well selling of RDP houses. As part of outcomes based approach the department has resolved that we must work simpler and smarter, reduce compliance work that adds no value, focus on deliverables and terminate contractors where there’s evidence of under-performance. Having stated the challenges, we would like to caution, Honourable members, that we must not only focus on numbers but our approach must be that of creating stability within the sector.
Honourable Members, we have transferred 4 149 stands with 649 transferred under the Enhanced Discount Benefit Scheme.
On rectification we are making progress in collaboration with our strategic partners with 2 777 defective houses being completed and 1 829 still under rectification.
In the 2010/11 Policy and Budget Speech we committed to provide 970 Social Housing Units for various income categories as an alternative solution to the housing problem. 782 units have been completed and occupied. Flagship Rental housing projects include the Park Towers in Port Elizabeth and Emerald Sky in East London. This is in line with our objectives of improving the property market and the ANC Polokwane conference resolution which noted that the country’s housing backlog will require no less than one response and other alternative solutions will have to be found.
Honourable Members, the eradication of informal settlements in the Province continues to be our key priority programme with Duncan Village Redevelopment Initiative (DVIR) and the Zanemvula being our Breaking New Ground flagship projects.
The six active Eastern Cape Breaking New Ground (BNG) Pilot Projects started to test a combination of sustainable practices by promoting health as well as social cohesion and inclusion with the following progress:
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality - Zanemvula – Progress to date include installation of solar energy to a thousand houses, construction of the Multi –purpose Centre (MPCC) is under way; construction of a school and a clinic, development and implementation of a crime prevention plan with the Department of Safety and Liaison is also underway. A community capacity building programme in partnership with the Sustainability Institute of the University Stellenbosch has commenced.
Ndlambe -Thornhill – For the 2010/11 financial year we planned to complete 509 units. I am pleased to announce the 509 housing units have been completed and handed over to rightful beneficiaries. In addition, energy efficient external windows achieving a good daylight factor have been installed. The Ndlambe -Thornhill mixed-mode development puts emphasis on low and middle income integration through significant Private Sector investment in this project.
Mbashe - Elliotdale – The Development Bank of Southern Africa has been appointed as an Implementing Agent to construct 1000 housing units. Government`s Breaking New Ground (BNG) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) Sustainable Development respective programmes have been merged to model a Rural green building housing concept for South Africa in this area. Phase 2 include the development of two sports fields of which one is completed.
KSD - Ngangelizwe – Planning for 200 units is at an advanced stage. The establishment of an Innovation Hub which promotes a range of alternative construction technologies is apace. A community capacity building programme in partnership with the Sustainability Institute of the University Stellenbosch has commenced.
BCM-Duncan Village – This project has been escalated to a Presidential status project, with the National Department of Human Settlements and the Development Bank of Southern Africa providing programme and project management support.
A pilot project which is testing high-densities is also underway. This project, Honourable speaker, like any other Breaking New Ground project is experiencing serious bulk challenges.
It must be noted that in the course of 2010/11 financial year, the EXCO endorsed that other sector departments should align their priorities to all the Breaking New Ground projects.
Honourable Members, in terms of meeting our objective of more efficient land utilisation for Human settlements Development, the department continues with its plans to upscale acquisition of suitable and strategically located land in order to address the apartheid spatial legacy, intervene in the housing market and promote inclusive housing. This remains fundamental in order to improve the property market.
The acquired land will be developed to replace informal settlements, develop rental stock and promote mixed income groupings covering low and middle income earners.
During the 2010/11 financial year the Department acquired two (2) land parcels at Phakamisa King Wiiliams Town and Gonubie East London, out of the target of four (4). However, two additional land parcels are at an advanced state of acquisition. The department further to this is working closely with the Housing Development Agency on a speedy release of state controlled land.
In terms of meeting the objective of access to basic services a total number of 11 402 sites have been serviced within the Integrated Residential Development Programme and Informal Settlements Upgrading projects. This includes servicing of rural development sites.
Honourable Members we are also making a difference in rural settlement development. Last year we reported that the department is reviving the Peoples Housing Process mechanism to upscale rural housing development. In preparing for the implementation of the Enhanced Peoples Housing Process (ePHP) policy, the department, on the guidance and recommendations of the Portfolio Committee, undertook a PHP study tour to the Western Cape province to share and learn best practices.
Honourable Speaker, the revitalisation of the PHP programme in our Province will undoubtedly contribute to the rural development priority.
With regards to emergency housing relief to victims of disasters, Honourable Speaker the department is improving on turnaround times to ensure that the disaster affected households are assisted. There has been instances where we have been able to respond with temporary assistance within 24 hours of disaster striking, however we still need to improve on our turnaround times. In addition, the department is entering into memoranda of agreements with District Municipalities for the transfer of temporary shelters so that we are able to respond promptly to disasters as districts are closer to the communities.
Honourable Speaker, it needs to be noted that the occurrence of disasters in our province is now more prevalent than ever before. This requires that as the province we must work together to ensure better planning and coordination, as well as ensure the necessary investment in disaster and emergency programmes.
Each sector department and role-player needs to carry out their responsibilities with regards to disasters. District Management centres need to be in a state of readiness for disasters, so that we do not only respond but we also prevent and mitigate. To achieve this, it will require scientific risk assessment studies and use of management systems.
Honourable Speaker, in meeting our objective of building the capacity of the organisation in the current year the department could not embark on any further recruitment drive because of budget constraints. Hence our vacancy rate still remains the same as we reported last year, however, in populating our organogram we have prioritised filling of vacant funded posts of which the majority of these will be technical positions.
Furthermore, in line with our drive to capacitate and strengthen our district services, we have created a new district office for Alfred Nzo. Roll out process for the establishment of this district has already started and we have recruited for management posts in this district. In an effort to improve social facilitation of our programmes at community level, we have deployed some of our head office personnel to districts including unemployed graduates whom we have trained to render social facilitation services. This programme is enhancing community empowerment on housing matters and thereby assisting in eliminating challenges that normally negatively affect our housing projects.
Honourable Members, the department is also in the process of reviewing its Service Delivery Model to identify organisational and operational service delivery constraints that inhibit the ability of the department to perform optimally. A high level Technical Task Team has been appointed in the office of the Head of Department with the support of external experts and it is expected to conclude its work in the next three months.
Honourable Speaker, the new service delivery model will be tested for a reasonable period in the 2011/12 financial year, and I am convinced that the model will change the way the Department is conducting its business Honourable Members, in the period under review we are encouraged with the feedback that we received from the Auditor -General. The AG office, in its findings, was pleased about the state of financial management within the department.
3. Review of departmental expenditure:
Analysis of the departments ’ expenditure as at 28 February 2011 is as follows:
Table 1: Analysis of the departments’ expenditure
Overall expenditure on the Vote 1,826,939 1,389,437 - 80%
Conditional Grant
Expenditure: 1,599,146 1,216,101 - 79%
Equitable Share
Expenditure: 227,793 173,336 - 84%
4. Key challenges
Honourable Speaker, I now turn my attention to the challenges confronting the department. In the course of executing our mandate and thereby addressing needs of our people, we continue to be stifled by a wide range of challenges. I will briefly expand on a few of these challenges that affect our performance which we will be responding to as a matter of urgency.
Fragmented and racially-based housing The inherent fragmented and racially-based housing landscape continues to affect rapid transformation in relation to the acquisition of well located land, social integration and holistic development.
Subsidy houses that have been built have not become “va luable assets”
Honourable members, the subsidy houses that have been built have not become “valuable assets” in the hands of the poor because of:
- Poor quality houses impacting on beneficiary satisfaction
- High transport subsidy
- High basic services subsidy
- Social exclusion and
- Economic marginality.
Huge inherited housing backlog Honourable Speaker, we are still confronted with a huge inherited housing backlog which continues to grow exponentially (EC Housing backlog of 750 854 units as confirmed by Statistic South Africa backlog) which continues to be a moving target due to factors such a migration, selling of RDP houses and ever mushrooming of informal settlements.
In addition, Honourable Members, lack of funding and poor alignment of budgets and priorities between line function departments and municipalities still haunts us as one of the major challenges. This misalignment of budgets relates to continuing silos mentality in the implementation of programmes by government Departments. This silos mentality manifests in the spatial choices departments make which render service delivery as disjointed rather than seamless.
5. Housing delivery plan and Budget outlook for 2011/12
Current outcomes based approach
Honourable Speaker, it should be remembered that the Department is barely three years since it was established post delineation from Local Government and Traditional affairs and therefore it is still fledgling. Notwithstanding this, there is a great expectation that the department should be performing at a higher level than it is currently doing.
The pronouncement by State President Zuma in his State of the Nation Address that the year 2011 must be a year for “Job Creation” has re-invigorated and given us clarity of vision and purpose with regards to our mandate. It has afforded us an opportunity to re organise and reposition ourselves to assume the pivotal role of mobilising all sector departments towards the creation of sustainable human settlements.
Honourable Members we want to rise to this clarion call knowing that housing construction is a driver of work opportunities.
Honourable Speaker, we also want to rise to the call for an Outcomes Based Performance Management System introduced by the Presidency. This new approach requires focus on high impact priority activities and monitoring of their implementation.
We are therefore required to revisit our institutional design, and architecture, have solid management and innovative capability to support it.
Compatriots, as this august House would know, the outcome relating to human settlements (Outcome 8) is “Sustainable human settlements and improved quality of household life”. The House will agree with me that this is by no means a small job.
The current reality is that the policy of segregation dating back to the colonial era has shaped human settlements in the country along racial and class lines. This has resulted in the exclusion of large sections of our population from the economic, social and environmental benefits of vibrant, integrated sustainable urban development.
As such the limited employment opportunities in the province and increase in the rural to urban migration trends has contributed to a steady growth of informal settlements in urban areas, in particular Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metro Municipalities.
The net result is an increased demand and expenditure on social (health, housing and education) services and enabling (transport, water and sanitation) infrastructure as well as increased burden on the natural resources in these areas.
The number of Informal Settlements in the Eastern Cape according to Census 2001 was 205. This translated into an estimated housing need totalling 117 719 units with a present estimated funding requirement of R9,4 billion. It is clear that these estimates have grown exponentially since 2001. The current allocation to the province is wholly inadequate to address the continued mushrooming of settlements, and the department will have to look toward strategic partners to further assist in the eradication of informal settlements as well as explore the use of alternative technologies.
Informed by the context as stated above and the desired outputs for the Human Settlements nationally, namely:
- Accelerated delivery of housing opportunities
- Access to basic services
- More efficient land utilisation
- Improved property market
In 2011/12 the department will do the following in its quest to contribute to the aforementioned outputs:
1. Accelerated delivery of housing opportunities
The department will speed the work that has commenced in the delivery of the identified high impact human settlements projects.
In the 2011/12 financial year the department has set itself a housing target of 15 419 as part of its systematic programme to accelerate the delivery of housing opportunities across the province.
Honourable members, as you are aware the Duncan Village Redevelopment Initiative (DVIR) human settlements programme in East London has been escalated into a Presidential Project.
This financial year, out of the additional funding of R400 million that we got we got from National, we have prioritised the DVIR.
We have ring fenced an amount of R120,702 million to speed up housing development in the area. This project is expected to yield 1629 units.
2. Access to basic services
Honourable members, as you are also aware that a critical element of an adequate shelter is access to basic services.
In terms of the departmental plans for 2011/12, we will be installing 8 679 partial services in rural areas. These include services such as toilets, water tanks and access roads. In addition to this positive work we will also be installing 6 981 services to urban areas. This gives us a total number of 15 660 services to be installed.
3. More efficient land utilisation
Honourable Speaker; the acquisition of strategic and well located land continues to remain a key housing intervention in the coming period.
Our plan in 2011/12 financial year is to acquire five (5) land parcels of suitable land. This land will be made available to municipalities for housing development.
4. Improved property market
Honourable Members, the department is committed to implementing sustainable human settlements, in line with the expanded mandate of the Department as well as the Outcome 8. A sustainable human settlement goes beyond the building of a house but requires, amongst others, the promotion of local economic development, job creation, provision of social amenities, poverty alleviation and promotion of social cohesion and integration. The Department is in the process of speeding up the completion of the six active breaking new ground projects (BNG), however, these projects are being hamstrung by the lack of bulk services. The lack of bulk thereof is a serious challenge when it comes to fast-tracking the implementation of human settlements projects in our province.
To this end, the department has submitted a request to the national department for a once-off capital injection to address the bulk challenges facing the province, totalling R2, 9 billion.
Honourable Speaker, I am pleased to announce that from our request, National Human Settlements has granted an amount of R926 million to the Nelson Mandela Metro and Buffalo City (R423 million and R503 million respectively) through the Urban Settlement Development Grant in respect of, amongst other things, bulk services. Whilst this allocation is not sufficient and does not cater for other municipalities with serious bulk challenges, this is nevertheless a major breakthrough. We will however continue engaging the National Department so that all our projects with bulk and other challenges are assisted.
Honourable Speaker, during 2011/12 the department will continue forging strategic partnerships with not only the private sector, but also with the business sector and civil society to assist us in meeting our sustainable human settlements needs and delivery targets. As government we cannot do it alone, but we need the support of our partners. As we embark on our rapid housing delivery initiative in order to meet our Outcomes 8 goals, we will also need the support of other government departments, this is because human settlements is not about houses alone, but also other services such as schools, clinics, water, sanitation, roads and other infrastructure. This undoubtedly requires that other sector departments come on board with concrete commitments in this regard.
Honourable members, we agree with the statement by the President in his SONA 2011, that government will improve delivery of rental accommodation as some people do not intend settling permanently in urban areas. As the province we will be facilitating the development of housing units for middle-income groups in Walmer, Port Elizabeth where 347 units will be reserved for rental and 432 units will be for sale.
Furthermore, in Uitenhage, St John’s Street a total number of 400 units will be constructed whilst 160 units for Emerald Sky phase 4 in East London will be constructed In terms of reaching out to other areas, we will be piloting social housing programmes in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo; Lukhanji; Matatiele, Makana and Camdeebo local municipalities.
On Rural Settlement Development
Honourable Speaker, in the 2011/12 financial year, the department will continue to make meaningful contribution to the Rural Development priority, as encapsulated in the election manifesto of the Ruling Party, as well as in the Government’s Programme Of Action for the current term. Our contribution to the rural development priority is in line with our rural housing policy.
In up scaling rural development, the Department will commence with the planning and testing of the individual rural housing subsidy voucher pilot programme in the three identified pilot municipalities in our province, namely Umzimvubu municipality in Alfred Nzo, Mhlontlo municipality in OR Tambo as well as IntsikaYethu municipality in Chris Hani.
Honourable Speaker, this voucher programme entails the issuing of housing subsidy to rural areas beneficiaries in the form of a voucher to households for the purchasing of building materials and services. In essence it is a self-help scheme where people build their own houses. There is no doubt that this programme will be an important contribution by the department to the rural development priority.
The department has already finalised the consultation processes with both the political as well as administrative leadership of these pilot municipalities, and I must commend the leadership in all these three pilot municipalities for their willingness to participate in the piloting of this voucher programme.
Honourable Speaker, during the course of this financial year, the department will revive the People’s Housing Process (PHP) programme. Because of the challenges experienced with the PHP policy countrywide, the National Department of Human Settlements commissioned the review of the PHP policy. This review culminated in the development and adoption of the Enhanced People’s Housing Process Policy (ePHP). The ePHP requires provinces to identify and implement pilot projects. To this end, three pilot sites in the province (in Amathaole, Alfred Nzo and Chris Hani) have been identified to pilot the ePHP programme. Already, preparatory work and planning for the pilots has been initiated and this will continue into the 2011/12 financial year. And again Honourable Speaker the revitalisation of the PHP programme in our province will undoubtedly contribute to the rural development priority.
On job creation through Human Settlements Development
Honourable Speaker, we are mindful of the critical role the human settlements sector can play in economic development and poverty eradication, and in response to the President’s call of making 2011 a “Year for Job Creation”, we are aligning our Housing Plans to the jobs creation drive. It is my pleasure, honourable members, to announce that as the Department of Human Settlements we will contribute a total number of 9,200 employment opportunities to the provincial job creation drive.
On strengthening integrated planning, monitoring and evaluation
Honourable members in this respect, we are mindful of the consequences of apartheid social engineering. Internally, and as part of the organisational restructuring exercise, we will be strengthening our planning capacity by ensuring that Strategic Planning and Multi-Year Housing Development Directorates are integrated.
Externally, we will explore integration of our Departmental planning regime with that of municipalities in particular IDP processes to ensure synergistic and streamlined processes through planning.
Through this, we shall achieve planning and building human settlements in an integrated, coordinated and holistic way.
Planning support will be provided to 39 municipalities in the review of the Housing Chapters of their Integrated Development Plans.
Subsequently, the Multi Year Human Settlements Development Plan will be reviewed.
Honourable Members, the Department has made tremendous gains in breaking the housing backlog and the new houses built is only second to China (Minister Sexwale, Budget Speech, 2009).
But it must not mean that houses must be of poor standards or that quality is compromised in the interest of chasing numbers.
In the Department we have our own Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate to assess the quality and quantity of new homes, as well as in collaboration with our partners the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). Our chief focus this year would be to strengthen our monitoring and evaluation systems capacity at project level.
On Fraud and Anti-Corruption
Honourable Speaker, the department remains committed to promoting sound corporate governance including fighting fraud and corruption both within the department as well on the housing projects we are implementing.
To this end, the Anti corruption Policy is in place and is being implemented to root out corrupt activities throughout the province. In addition, we are working closely with law enforcement agencies such as the Hawks, SAPS and SIU for prosecution of offenders.
Furthermore the Department will be embarking on Anti corruption educational campaigns targeting communities, municipalities and other interest groups (such as churches, business etc) in order to create awareness and prevent fraud and corrupt practices.
On White Paper on the Prevention and mushrooming of information settlements
Compatriots, the mushrooming of informal settlements continues to cast a dark cloud in out towns and cities. This remains a constant concern in our life as a department.
A White Paper on the Prevention of the Mushrooming of Informal Settlements in the Province will be developed. Consultation, through public hearings, will follow suit, with the support of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, and this process will culminate in the development of a Bill, as part of Legislature processes.
Departmental Budget outlook for 2011/12
Honourable Speaker, the table below details overall service delivery targets that are intended for human settlements delivery by the Department for the 2011/12 financial year:
Table 2: Overall service delivery targets for 2011/12.
Deliverables Targets:
Land Acquisition: 5 land Parcels
Social and Rental Housing: 789
Site Services: 15 660
Rectification: 3 526
Housing targets: 15 419
Job opportunities: 9 200
Honourable Members, we recognise that resources are scarce and therefore there is a need to work smarter. It is equally true that our sector requires hands-on foot soldiers at every milestone from project conceptualisation to close out.
Honourable Speaker, we are grateful of the 5, 6 % increase in our equitable share.
Departmental budget overview 2011/2012
The department’s budget for the creation of integrated and sustainable Human Settlements during 2011/12 is comprised of the Housing Conditional Grant as well as the EPWP Grant and the Equitable share allocation, and stands as follows:
Table 3: Budget overview of Department of Housing, 2011/12
Budget category Total allocation Percentage of overall budget
Housing Conditional Grant: 2,177,676 - 89.8%
EPWP Grant: 711 - 0.2%
Equitable share (provincial): 246,555 - 10%
Total: 2,424,942 - 100%
The departmental Budget Allocation split by Programmes is presented below:
Table 4: Departmental Budget for 2011/12
Budget expressed as a percentage of the overall budget:
Administration: 104,547 - 4.4%
Housing Planning and Research: 18,084 - 0.7%
Housing Development: 2,295,071 - 94.6%
Housing Assets Management: 7,240 - 0.3%
Total: 2,424,942 - 100%
6. Conclusion
Honourable Members, as I conclude I wish to reiterate the fact that the department is committed to the implementation and realisation of the ANC policy priorities as encapsulated in its Manifesto and other related policy documents. Equally, we are conscious of the constraints posed by our capacity as the department.
In mitigating the effects of the budgetary constraints we will mobilise and leverage upon all available resources through forging strategic partnerships to ensure that the reasonable expectations of our people are met.
Also, with some form of additional financial and human resources injection from the national and provincial fiscus, we are confident that we will be able to achieve more, better and faster.
Honourable, Speaker I take this opportunity to table this Policy Speech accompanied by the Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan and Service Delivery Improvement Plan of the Department of Human Settlements.
In closing, let me seize this moment to thank my organisation the African National Congress (ANC) for providing me and the department with the overall political guidance towards meeting one of its critical priorities namely the creation of sustainable Human Settlements.
Honourable members, I am also looking forward in establishing a sound working relationship with this House through the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements under the seasoned leadership of Honourable Dennis Neer and the Honourable members of the House.
Honourable Speaker; I am also looking forward with creating synergistic partnerships with our critical stakeholders, namely, the Mayors and Human Settlements Portfolio Councillors in all municipalities to strengthen our intergovernmental relations.
Compatriots, as part of our effort to embrace our new mandate of Sustainable Human Settlements and making sure that we rise to the challenge of making 2011 a year of Job Creation, we will expand our horizon to tap into the genius and capacity of the private sector and the construction industry widely.
Finally, I would like to urge my Head of Department and Senior Management team and all the employees of the Department to rise above the occasion and respond to the clarion call from the President to make sure that 2011 becomes a year for “Job Creation”.
Honourable, Speaker and Members One more thank you for the opportunity.
There shall be houses, security and comfort for all!!!
