Pretoria - Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu says government is on track with building integrated communities.
“We are very much committed to integrating our communities, the basis is laid in our policy and evident in the work we do. It might take time but we are on track and the results which include COSMO City and Cornubia are there for everyone to see that integration is central in our work,” said Minister Sisulu.
The Minister briefed the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on Tuesday on South Africa’s participation at the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III).
The conference ended with the adoption of the New Urban Agenda.
Habitat III is hosted by the United Nations every 20 years to secure a renewed global commitment to addressing housing and sustainable urbanisation through the adoption of a forward-looking, action-orientated outcome agreement expected to be implemented by all member states including South Africa.
As part of implementing the New Urban Agenda, South Africa will over the next few years be expected to ensure that transformation is realised, among other things.
The transformative commitments include sustainable urban development for social inclusion and ending poverty, sustainable and inclusive urban prosperity and opportunities for all, and environmentally sound and resilient urban development.
Minister Sisulu said the department continues to work towards to reducing economic inequalities.
“We are transforming the economy through Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) development. For instance, our intervention in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro; we have been paying our contractors within 14 days,” the Minister said.
Over the last few months the department has been paying over R16 million to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro contractors on a weekly basis.
The Minister informed portfolio committee members that 61% of South Africans now lived in urban areas. – SAnews.gov.za
