The Special Economic Zones areas of Tubatse and Musina-Makhado in the Eastern Cape will benefit from thousands of new human settlements that are scheduled for construction in upcoming months.

Government said it aimed to deliver 80,000 housing units over the next two financial years.

Tabling her budget speech at the provincial legislature in Lebowakgomo, Makoma Makhurupetje, MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, said that both the volume and the quality of delivery across the province must be increased.

“We will ensure that our housing delivery spreads across growth towns and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as part of the department’s endeavour to meet the target of delivering 80,000 housing opportunities by 2019,” Makhurupetje said.

R40 million was allocated to be spent on housing around the Tubatse area. Musina-Makhado was also allocated R40 million to secure 900 sites during the 2017/2018 financial year.

“The department will also provide an additional R100 million to be spent on housing and additional land over the next three years to support envisaged growth in this SEZ,” she said.

Makhurupetje said additional land would also be identified at the Musina and Makhado areas to dove-tail the envisaged growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) with 20,800 jobs to be created through the zone.

Unqualified audits

Makhurupetje also drew attention to the five municipalities that received unqualified audits in the province. She said that in the coming months, the department will work with municipalities that have consistently obtained unqualified audit results to help them deal with the outstanding issues to attain a clean audit.

Furthermore, she said that in-line with the priorities of phase two of the Back-to-Basics programme, the department would give special attention to municipalities receiving disclaimers.

She said in order for the department to achieve this, they would do it in partnership with Provincial Treasury and the Auditor General.

Outstanding debts

Makhurupetje also acknowledged the high debts owed to Eskom and to water boards. She said it remains a concern for the department.

“I want to make a serious call to all municipalities to pay their debts with Eskom, water boards and other service providers without fail,” she said. “We plead with our sister departments to pay municipalities what is due to them. Municipalities as well are encouraged to clean their billing systems.”