Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, has commended the department's progress over the past three months in advancing one of the core principles of the Freedom Charter: ensuring that there shall be houses, security, and comfort for all South Africans.

Despite the challenges that remain, Simelane highlighted the significant strides made in various areas, particularly in responding to emergencies, advancing development plans, and supporting vulnerable groups.

"We have responded to emergencies such as floods and fires in provinces like the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and we have also convened discussions with the MECs to review our five-year Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP)," said Simelane.

She further noted that the department has launched and visited several human settlement projects aimed at improving living conditions across the country.

An initiative introduced during this period is the Special Housing Needs Programma (SHNP), developed in collaboration with the Department of Social Development. This programme aims to provide essential amenities for individuals who cannot live independently, including people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the elderly, she said.

Simelane also emphasised the importance of stabilising the department’s entities by appointing and inducting board members to serve in five out of the six department’s entities.

The approval of the White Paper on Human Settlements in December 2024, which outlines a vision for housing, safety, and comfort for all South Africans, marks another significant milestone.

"Our focus remains on the vulnerable, poor, and the missing middle of our society," Simelane said.

Despite these advancements, Simelane acknowledged the numerous challenges facing the sector. These include budget cuts, poor contract management, allegations of fraud, and a trust deficit between the department and stakeholders. Additionally, Simelane identified the ongoing struggle to find permanent solutions to informal settlements as a critical area of concern.

“These challenges inform us that there is no silver bullet to resolve our challenges. The government alone cannot provide solutions. Partnership with the private sector, the public, and NGOs will bring us closer to a permanent solution to our country’s housing challenges,” she said.

Addressing the issue of rental agreements in social housing projects, the minister sent a clear message to tenants who refuse to pay rent.

"If a social housing entity gives you a key to a social housing unit, a rental unit, you are contractually obliged to pay rent. Failure to do so will lead to eviction. Do not blame the government. Do the honourable thing, pay rent, and enjoy decent and affordable accommodation closer to economic activities and social amenities," she said.

To enhance collaboration with the private sector and developers, the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) is set to launch the Emerging Developer Incubator and Post Investment Support Programme on March 28, 2025, said Simelane.

This initiative aims to empower emerging developers, particularly those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, by providing non-financial support and helping them manage construction projects and post-investment phases.

Simelane believes that empowering contractors and developers is key to achieving success in human settlements.

“Empowered contractors are a vehicle to our success. If contractors and developers were to deliver quality human settlement projects on time and within budget, nothing would stand in our way of achieving our goals,” she said.

Moreover, Simelane outlined the immediate priorities, including completing stalled projects, addressing the military veterans housing backlog, and prioritising housing for vulnerable and destitute groups.

She also noted that protecting the interests of housing consumers is also a central focus, particularly following the recent collapse of a building in George, Western Cape. The National Home Builders Regulatory Council (NHBRC) is investigating the incident, with a final report expected soon.

The Minister emphasised the government's broader goals, noting that departmental priorities for 2024-2025 are aligned with the government’s overarching objectives of inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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