Pretoria – The newly appointed Minister for Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu says her immediate priority will be to fast-track housing delivery and ensure that there is more affordable housing stock in the market.
The Minister, who makes a return to the ministry after serving in the same portfolio in 2004, also said that the provision of housing was not only about chasing numbers but ensuring that all houses built by government are of high quality that affords beneficiaries decent accommodation.
“Our primary task is to ensure that we provide decent housing and create an environment whereby the private sector will invest in low income housing projects to cater for those who do not qualify for government subsidised houses and also do not qualify for bond houses,” she said.
During her tenure as Human Settlements Minister, the Minister saw to the implementation of the Integrated Human Settlements Plan, currently being implemented by all provinces, endorsed by the United Nation’s as a framework for creating sustainable human settlements for communities.
“Human Settlements will play a major role in ensuring that the commitments we made … to our people of improving their living conditions becomes a reality in our lifetime.
“The President has made it clear to all of us that the next five years are about fast tracked service delivery, and I am happy that I have been given this task of leading such a critical service delivery department,” she added.
The Minister also said that National Development Plan required that apartheid planning consigned the majority of South African to places far away from work where services could be sustained and this will have to be dealt with to ensure an improved lifestyle for them. – SAnews.gov.za
