The high rate of urban migration in South Africa is placing ever-increasing pressure on housing delivery, Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on Tuesday.
"The strain on the fiscus from migration is phenomenal," she told a parliamentary media briefing a day ahead of debate on her department's budget in the National Assembly.
The resources were not available "to do what we wanted to do".
The housing budget is set to grow to R10,6-billion this year (2008/09) from R9-billion last year. Budget estimates for 2009/10 and 2010/11 are R12,7-billion and R15,3-billion respectively.
Sisulu said urban migration in South Africa was currently about three percent of the population a year, well above the international average of 2,5 percent. This figure represented about 1,2 million people.
The high urban inflow was the reason for the rapid mushrooming of informal settlements around the country's cities and towns.
Although the clearing of informal settlements by 2014 was a government priority, the current budget was sufficient to provide only 266 000 houses, compared to an ever-growing backlog of 2,1 million units.
This figure comprised 1,1 million units to house those currently living in informal settlements, and a further million for so-called "backyard" dwellers.
The increase to this year's housing budget barely met the inflation rate.
"If we have not delivered as fast as some would have wanted us, it is because we simply do not have the money to do that," she said.
A 2006 audit had shown the amount needed to clear the current housing backlog over the next three years (by 2012) was R120-billion.
Sisulu noted South Africans had "run out of patience" when it came to housing delivery.
"I appeal to all who qualify and wait for houses: despite all the problems we face, we are on course within the limited resources at our disposal. I assure them their turn will come," she said. - Sapa
"The strain on the fiscus from migration is phenomenal," she told a parliamentary media briefing a day ahead of debate on her department's budget in the National Assembly.
The resources were not available "to do what we wanted to do".
The housing budget is set to grow to R10,6-billion this year (2008/09) from R9-billion last year. Budget estimates for 2009/10 and 2010/11 are R12,7-billion and R15,3-billion respectively.
Sisulu said urban migration in South Africa was currently about three percent of the population a year, well above the international average of 2,5 percent. This figure represented about 1,2 million people.
The high urban inflow was the reason for the rapid mushrooming of informal settlements around the country's cities and towns.
Although the clearing of informal settlements by 2014 was a government priority, the current budget was sufficient to provide only 266 000 houses, compared to an ever-growing backlog of 2,1 million units.
This figure comprised 1,1 million units to house those currently living in informal settlements, and a further million for so-called "backyard" dwellers.
The increase to this year's housing budget barely met the inflation rate.
"If we have not delivered as fast as some would have wanted us, it is because we simply do not have the money to do that," she said.
A 2006 audit had shown the amount needed to clear the current housing backlog over the next three years (by 2012) was R120-billion.
Sisulu noted South Africans had "run out of patience" when it came to housing delivery.
"I appeal to all who qualify and wait for houses: despite all the problems we face, we are on course within the limited resources at our disposal. I assure them their turn will come," she said. - Sapa
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