Mpumalanga rural communities receive a major boost through CRDP
22 May 2012
A contribution towards the Province’s Rural Development
Strategy
A total of 5 300 low cost houses through the People’s
Housing Process (PHP) will be delivered at poverty stricken municipalities in
Mpumalanga. The Department of Human Settlements has increased the number from
3000 to 5 300 units to be delivered as a contribution to the Province’s rural
development strategy – Comprehensive Rural Development Programme. The programme
is an inventive flagship that it will alleviate poverty; provide employment and
skills in the true spirit of Vuk’uzenzele in the seven poverty-stricken local
municipalities namely: Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge, Thembisile Hani, Dr JS Moroka,
Mkhondo, Chief Albert Luthuli and Pixley ka Isaka Seme. This was announced by
the Department of Human Settlements MEC, Siphosezwe Masango during the 2012/13
Policy and Budget Speech at the Provincial Legislature in Nelspruit.
Under the upgrading of informal settlements programme, a
total of 2 527 housing units will be constructed under this
programme. On rural development, the Department plans to deliver 450 rural
housing subsidies and 270 units for the farming community. “The Department will
also start processes to finalise the promulgation of the Mpumalanga Elimination
and Prevention of and the Re-emergence of Informal Settlements Bill, 2012. The
Draft Bill is ready for submission to the Executive Council for approval. Once
the Executive Council approves the Bill, it will be taken for public comments to
all relevant stakeholders and interested parties” – indicated MEC Masango. It is
envisaged that all the processes will be completed within this financial year.
During 2011/12, the Department managed to deliver 3 275 out of the planned 5 300 People’s Housing Process (PHP) housing units during the last financial year as its contribution towards rural, economic and skills development. The poor start in the establishment of cooperatives - which were to produce building material such as bricks, window and door frames – affected the smooth implementation of the programme. Interventions were, however, made to use the conventional route of utilising Community Resource Organisations (CROs) aimed at delivering the houses in a bid not to surrender the budget to other Provinces.
The Department has over one billion rand (R 1 164 949 000)
to deliver a total of 10 985 housing units through the various programmes
and other required amenities towards the establishment of proper human
settlements during the 2012/13 Financial Year. The Department managed to
deliver 7 702 housing units including Community Residential Units (CRUs)
from the total planned target of 10 568 were delivered. The remaining projects
were at various stages of completion given the nature of our business
(construction) which at times is not favourable to other seasons of the year.
Contact person:
Freddy Ngobe
Cell: 082 859 4630
Tel: 013 766 6014
ISSUED BY THE MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
