Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has promised a new way in the delivery of housing.

Sisulu was presenting her 100 days programme to the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, aimed at laying the basis for the acceleration of 1.5 million housing opportunities in the next five years.

“What we are presenting to you today is the framework in which we will build the foundation towards achieving our objectives on not only building houses for the poor but open the housing market for those whom are unable to access home loans and also do not qualify for free government houses,” said Sisulu.

 

100 days programme

Sisulu made several commitments as part of the 100 days programme in her budget vote speech earlier this year. One was that the Department of Human Settlements resolved to identify 50 National Priority Projects across South Africa that will deliver mega integrated and sustainable human settlements.

These projects will deliver BNG houses (30%), gap houses (20%), rental accommodation (20%), social housing (10%) and serviced sites (20%). The projects will also have economic and social amenities and a youth brigade will be created in each province and assigned to catalytic projects.

The minister indicated that her department has moved with speed towards meeting the 100 day target. This included meetings with the Chamber of Mines, South African Local Government Association, Banking Association and South African Women in Construction amongst other stakeholders.

 

National Human Settlements Indaba

These stakeholder meetings will eventually culminate into a National Human Settlements Indaba scheduled for September 2014.

“I have interacted with a number of our stakeholders. Between 25 and 26 September we will all assemble under one roof at the National Human Settlements Indaba to deliberate on our challenges and possible solutions while committing ourselves towards the delivery of 1.5 million housing opportunities”, said the Minister.

Sisulu added that she believed that at the end of the National Human Settlements Indaba all affected parties will emerge with a new social contract which seeks to forge partnership between government and the private sector.

 

Service Level Agreement

She also announced that her department had signed a Service Level Agreement with the State Information Technology Agency to create a credible waiting and beneficiary list data base.

“The creation of this reputable waiting list will assist us in ensuring that we remove from the list those who do not qualify or have received a house previously by linking this to the population register.”