The Western Cape government is to spend about R4,5-billion providing 110,000 homes and serviced sites over the next three years, says MEC for Local Government and Housing Richard Dyantyi.
This year his department's planned to launch and complete 30 housing projects in areas such as Blue Downs, Belhar and Steenberg, and provide about 12,000 houses and as many serviced sites in 27 townships regarded as vulnerable.
Also, 10,000 serviced sites would be provided as part of a programme to ease conditions in informal settlements, Dyantyi told the legislature in delivering his budget speech on Tuesday.
A programme enabling people in informal settlements to be moved from areas prone to natural disasters was also to be undertaken, he said.
In De Doorns, for example, families living along the river bed would be moved as a matter of urgency.
"Issuing marquees to disaster management centres will be a major step (in helping to equip) municipalities to provide immediate temporary accommodation."
The projects to be launched included homes for rent and for people with disabilities.
Dyantyi said his department would consult communities and municipalities about developing a housing policy for people living in backyards.
"During 2008/09 we will finalise and implement the 'vulnerability index' to classify informal settlements with (regard) to health and disaster risks, in order to (decide) on interventions and allocations for emergency services and housing.
"With regard to disaster management, we will develop and co-ordinate sector-specific contingency planning in the provincial government.
"The newly established disaster management structures will be central in driving and supporting this process, as will the development of a generic disaster management software programme."
Natural disasters cost the province about R1-billion last year.
With the challenges arising from these, his department's focus was on planning to mitigate the risks to people, Dyantyi said.
"Given this reality, we must be pro-active," he said.
"For example, we are acting to mitigate such risks through a Development Bank of Southern Africa-funded initiative, which has established 11 training, education and awareness teams in high-risk areas.
"The project includes first aid training, fire prevention, home care, environmental health as well as disaster risk reduction."
About 926 volunteers had been trained as part of the efforts to make vulnerable communities more resilient.
"More than 2,000 learners and 50 teachers at primary schools in Masiphumelele, Kayamnandi, Phola Park and Khayelitsha will also be involved in an initiative to incorporate learning about risk management into the curriculum."
Asked earlier how the government would deal with informal settlements that mushroomed overnight and people who returned to living in a shack after being allocated a formal home, Dyantyi said legislation was being considered to curb this.
Also, municipalities were being encouraged to enforce by-laws against squatting.
"We are also working with the SA National Civics Organisation. Not all the growth in the number of informal settlements is driven by need.
"Some people live in formal areas, but build shacks in informal settlements to go and do business. "
Most people living in shacks were genuine cases, however.
Dyantyi said his department had delivered more than 18,000 serviced sites and 16,000 homes in 2007/08, exceeding its targets.
- Cape Times
This year his department's planned to launch and complete 30 housing projects in areas such as Blue Downs, Belhar and Steenberg, and provide about 12,000 houses and as many serviced sites in 27 townships regarded as vulnerable.
Also, 10,000 serviced sites would be provided as part of a programme to ease conditions in informal settlements, Dyantyi told the legislature in delivering his budget speech on Tuesday.
A programme enabling people in informal settlements to be moved from areas prone to natural disasters was also to be undertaken, he said.
| 926 volunteers had been trained as part of the efforts to make vulnerable communities more resilient |
"Issuing marquees to disaster management centres will be a major step (in helping to equip) municipalities to provide immediate temporary accommodation."
The projects to be launched included homes for rent and for people with disabilities.
Dyantyi said his department would consult communities and municipalities about developing a housing policy for people living in backyards.
"During 2008/09 we will finalise and implement the 'vulnerability index' to classify informal settlements with (regard) to health and disaster risks, in order to (decide) on interventions and allocations for emergency services and housing.
| ...municipalities were being encouraged to enforce by-laws against squatting |
"The newly established disaster management structures will be central in driving and supporting this process, as will the development of a generic disaster management software programme."
Natural disasters cost the province about R1-billion last year.
With the challenges arising from these, his department's focus was on planning to mitigate the risks to people, Dyantyi said.
"Given this reality, we must be pro-active," he said.
"For example, we are acting to mitigate such risks through a Development Bank of Southern Africa-funded initiative, which has established 11 training, education and awareness teams in high-risk areas.
"The project includes first aid training, fire prevention, home care, environmental health as well as disaster risk reduction."
About 926 volunteers had been trained as part of the efforts to make vulnerable communities more resilient.
"More than 2,000 learners and 50 teachers at primary schools in Masiphumelele, Kayamnandi, Phola Park and Khayelitsha will also be involved in an initiative to incorporate learning about risk management into the curriculum."
Asked earlier how the government would deal with informal settlements that mushroomed overnight and people who returned to living in a shack after being allocated a formal home, Dyantyi said legislation was being considered to curb this.
Also, municipalities were being encouraged to enforce by-laws against squatting.
"We are also working with the SA National Civics Organisation. Not all the growth in the number of informal settlements is driven by need.
"Some people live in formal areas, but build shacks in informal settlements to go and do business. "
Most people living in shacks were genuine cases, however.
Dyantyi said his department had delivered more than 18,000 serviced sites and 16,000 homes in 2007/08, exceeding its targets.
- Cape Times
No comments:
Post a Comment