Human Settlements’ Policy and Budget Speech 2017/18 presented by Hon. MEC SK Mashilo
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza Honourable Members of the Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature Chief Whip of the ANC, Mr J Mkhatshwa
Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders in Mpumalanga PEO of SALGA Mpumalanga
Director General, Mr T Mdakane Heads of Departments
Business and Public Sector Representatives Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Community members from Mpumalanga and other Provinces
Introduction
Hon. Speaker, it is with great honour that I am standing here today, presenting the budget vote that seeks to improve the lives of the communities of Mpumalanga Province.
The Province of Mpumalanga is ably led by the oldest political organization in Africa, the African National Congress. This ability to lead will be highlighted in the achievements of the Department of Human Settlements for the past years to date.
Hon. Speaker, I will not take it for granted that all of us sitting here in this august house understand where the Department of Human Settlements derive its mandate.
I will therefore hasten and say the Department is mandated to ‘ensure access to adequate housing’. This mandate is derived from Chapter 2 of the Bill of Rights, Chapters 3 and 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996).
Broadened Mandate
The Department’s broadened mandate entails the development of human settlements in an integrated and sustainable manner.
In terms of the new approach, emphasis is on the creation of integrated settlements, delivery of low-cost houses, mixed-typologies, and other required social and economic amenities such as community halls, health and education facilities.
Hon. Speaker, the realities of our work has taught us that not all community members who are beneficiaries to the Government housing units are in need of the RDP houses. Yes, there are those that cannot afford to purchase land and build shelter for themselves and their families. These are the beneficiaries who benefit from the low-cost houses of the Government.
These are beneficiaries who are identified in municipalities by councillors assisted by their ward committees and submitted to Councils for approval, before their names are submitted to the department for final approval.
Hon. Speaker, this category of beneficiaries include the indigent households, defined as per the indigent policies of municipalities, who comprises of the elderly, people living with disabilities, and child headed families and rest follow.
The next category of beneficiaries Hon. Speaker is of those who do not qualify as indigents but can also not apply for a housing loan from the bank. The Department of Human Settlements makes provision to assist qualifying beneficiaries through Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP).
In this way our people are able to build their own houses without getting into debts that will cripple the whole household for life. It is for this reason that we like to emphasise the strong working relationship between our Department and that of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration specifically on the identification of the suitable land to be purchased for human settlements purposes and assist in transferring state land to Municipalities such as R293 towns.
Hon. Speaker, It is appropriate of this house to congratulate the Minister of Human Settlements, Hon. Lindiwe Sisulu, for the launch of the Human Settlements Development Bank.
The outcome-based approach emphasizes improved coordination of activities across the spheres for common objectives.
Enhanced Planning
Hon. Speaker, sustainable human settlements are defined as well managed entities where economic growth and social development are in balance with a carrying capacity of the natural systems on which they depend for existence and result in sustainable development wealth creation, poverty alleviation and equity.
The broadened order requires the department to deliver not only houses, but engage all social partners to provide the required social amenities that qualifies a human settlement.
Hon. Speaker, our country has over many years experienced skewed planning which were based along racial patterns. This meant that people were settled along racial lines, socio-economic profile, therefore perpetuating a situation where communities continued to endure unsustainable development and inhumane conditions.
The development of integrated human settlements projects is now advanced by superior planning, improved quality of products such as bigger houses, and sites and socio-economic amenities.
Finance
Honourable Members, during the previous financial year, we saw significant delivery on our programmes. It must be stressed though that budget alone cannot help us arrive at our envisaged destination, but good plans and proper execution can.
Honourable Members, the total budget allocation for 2017/18 has shown a decrease of 16.8% when compared to the adjusted budget of the previous financial year from R1.979 billion to R1.646 billion.
The R1.646 billion is made up of the equitable share of R250 million (15.2%), Human Settlements Development Grant of R1.395 billion (84.8%).
These figures seem enormous, but with a huge backlog, we have to be prudent and make every cent count – therefore realizing value for money. Full speech [PDF]
