Sisulu allocates over half a billion rands to four provinces to fast-track informal settlements upgrading and rapid land release
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu has allocated an additional R588 million to four provinces namely, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Western Cape in an effort to speed-up the upgrading of informal settlements and servicing of stands to accelerate the rapid land release programme.
The Minister made a special allocation to the Northern Cape to bolster the Province’s vision to clear all informal settlements within the province in the shortest time possible.
“I am convinced it is possible for the Northern Cape to clear the few informal settlements that are there, it is a bold vision for the province to say to us, we want the Northern Cape to be the first province to be informal Settlements free. We support that vision and we are giving them R200M towards that,” said Sisulu.
Sisulu added that for the other three provinces she is supporting their informal settlements formalisation and land release programmes.
“Gauteng, Western Cape and Mpumalanga are seeing the fastest growing towns; we are making this allocation to support the upgrading of their informal settlements and release of serviced sites to encourage qualifying beneficiaries to build for themselves,” Sisulu added.
The Minister also emphasized that provinces need to prioritise fully subsidised government houses for indigents, people living with disabilities, child-headed households and elderly persons while making serviced stands available for those who can construct for themselves.
Minister Sisulu indicated that the land release programme must also benefit those whose household income is less than R15 000 per month and that provinces must work together with the banking and private sectors, and other stakeholders to service land and make affordable stands available.
The allocations to provinces are as follows:
- Gauteng-R100 million
- Western Cape-R150 million
- Mpumalanga-R138 million
- Northern Cape-R200 million
Enquiries:
Mandulo Maphumulo
Cell: 082 099 7699
