By Gabi Khumalo
Johannesburg – The Human Settlements Department has received thumbs up from housing stakeholders who commended the department for its progress in providing shelter for the people.
Speaking at a two-day Human Settlements Indaba on Thursday, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Nocawe Mafu, said it’s a great pleasure to be part of the Human Settlements family which strives to bring a better life to all citizens of this country.
“Working together we are assured of transforming our society in moving the country forward and we know with Minister Sisulu at the helm, this is doable.
“Policies are not supposed to be regarded as cut and stone; they should from time to time be revisited and adjusted so that they can respond to the challenges of the day and to our people on the ground. We are here to share ideas as to how and where we can enhance our policies so that lives of our people can also be improved.”
Mafu also shared that all the entities under the Human Settlements including the department have done well and received an unqualified audit.
“Of course there are those areas of concerned and emphasis that we’ve spoken about that we want the department to improve on and give us an update of how they are dealing with those issues on a quarterly basis. We have no doubt that this department is not going to disappoint us. We know that South Africa is going to be a better place,” said a proud Mafu.
Chairperson of the Select Committee on Social Services, LC Dlamini, pledged the committee’s support for the department’s initiative to provide housing for people.
“It’s a life changer, it’s not only about providing houses but it’s about giving dignity to our people. It means to those who didn’t have property before are now property owners. Those who were not able to provide shelter for their families can now proudly say we have a home.
“South Africa is different country today as compared to 1994. We are talking about services; we are talking about title deeds,” said Dlamini.
Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Minister Pravin Gordhan, said his department wants to work with the Housing Minister and all stakeholders to ensure that they accomplish some of the tasks over the next few years and create a much better environment for millions of South Africans, whether they live in a formal or informal environment.
“We want to create an environment where there’s greater ownership, greater partnership and co-responsibility between ourselves in trying to accomplish some of the historic tasks that we have,” Minister Gordhan said.
He also stressed a need to ensure that all the plans and commitments made by different departments including private sector becomes integrated into municipal integrated development plans.
President of Slum Dwellers International, Jockin Arputham, said they want to work with government and not protest for houses.
Arputham challenged the Human Settlements MECs to join them and develop a housing project where they will build 1 000 housing units in each province.
“We can take up this project in two provinces every year; we can do it in five years.”
The Indaba aims to review progress in the implementation of the Breaking New Ground Policy approved in 2004, identify successes and gear stakeholders for fast tracked delivery towards 1.5 million housing opportunities by 2019. – SAnews.gov.za
