As of 1 April 2010 the label WC Housing will be replaced by
WC HS [Western Cape Human Settlements]
No Seriously - This is NOT an April fools joke!
All that came before will probably be 'ring-fenced' under the old name and no one will be accountable...
Today begins a new day... of ... Human Settlements ...
In the western Cape informal settlements;
each shack is still inhabited by 3,4 Human Beings ...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Change of Label
Service Delivery Protests: People Need Services
The ongoing service delivery protests paint a negative picture of South Africa locally and abroad. The protests leave one with an impression that government is failing to deliver basic services to the people, especially at the local government level. Voters want to see government living up to its election promises to improve their lives. Similarly, communities have the right to demand basic services from government.
At local government level, most municipalities are failing to deliver basic services. There is no doubt that the culture of so-called cadre deployment and nepotism is contributing a great deal to municipalities’ inability to service communities. Cadre deployment and nepotism are common in that skills and experience is not a requirement for one to be appointed. The sad reality is that beneficiaries of both ‘nepotism and cadre deployment’ are appointed to key strategic positions. It is a fact that majority of these people fail to perform.
Corruption is rife in our municipalities. Unfortunately, government is failing to take disciplinary action or to prosecute corrupt officials because they have political connections. Speaking at a recent South African Communist Party anti-corruption seminar in Johannesburg, Judge Willem Heath, cited a case he investigated in the Western Cape, involving a corrupt mayor. Heath describes it as shocking the fact that the culprit was promoted to premier and was not prosecuted.
Lack of proper monitoring and evaluation systems within municipalities have also created space for ‘tenderpreneurs’ to loot millions of rands from taxpayers. I am one of the people who are appalled by the amount of money that government inject into tenders because they in turn get sub-standard services.
‘Tenderpreneurship’ and the allocation of tenders is fuelling corruption within municipalities. There is little transparency in tendering processes as tenders are awarded to inexperienced companies under directorships of individuals with political connections. These are the companies that continue to build roads that are bumby and full of potholes even before being exposed to heavy rains. The awarding of tenders to companies should be transparent and based on their ability to carry out the tender.
Communities should continue to demand basic services from their municipalities. In the same vein, municipalities should also develop a culture of fostering relationships between communities and civil society organisations as ‘partners in service delivery’ instead of viewing communities as the ‘recipient of basic services’. For instance, residents of the Madibeng municipality in the North West had to form the Concerned Ratepayers Association and withhold rates payments in protest against the municipality’s failure to provide them with basic services.
If democracy means ‘government by the people for the people’, municipalities should create platforms through which they engage the communities on service delivery issues. Such platforms will help communities to make municipalities aware of their immediate and long-term service delivery expectations. Most important is that consultations will empower the municipalities to provide feedback to the communities, promote ‘checks and balances’ and provide space for communities to hold their local government officials accountable. The feedback from communities will also help municipalities to develop basic delivery targets and channel budgets accordingly.
Politicians should not take communities for granted. Service delivery protests should provide an opportunity for the African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties to acknowledge the problems that exist within the municipalities.
It is unfortunate that most service delivery protests take place under conditions characterised by damage to public and private property and the looting of shops. It is imperative for municipalities to speed up the implementation of the so-called ‘local government turnaround strategy’. If government spokesperson, Themba Maseko’s assertion that the turnaround strategy will ensure that the local government is strengthened to attend to the service delivery concerns of the communities hold truth, municipalities will be transformed for the better.
However, municipalities cannot find solutions to their own problems without involving communities. The absence of communities and civil society groups as service delivery partners in municipalities means that our local government is missing out on an opportunity to promote ‘checks and balances’ and also empower residents to hold their local government officials accountable.
Political parties have much to learn from each other if they are serious about improving service delivery. Both opposition parties and the ANC have a lot to learn from each other’s successes and failures. They should create a platform through which they can share their experiences with the view of finding new ways of doing things. Currently, their interaction is centred on unnecessary public spats aimed at scoring political points. These public spats do not result in the provision of basic services or help municipalities to improve in their effort to provide basic services.
I am tempted to commend the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Sicelo Shiceka, when he says local councillors with no skills will be fired. However, I am curious to know the strategy he will be using when axing non-performing officials and when capacitating/retraining those who need to be empowered to perform better.
As we prepare for the 2011 local government elections, it will be interesting to hear what politicians will promise the electorate. I hope they tell the masses how they intend addressing their concerns and to improve the delivery of services. Similarly, I wish communities will continue the culture of exerting pressure on government to deliver, but not through violent protest or damage to public and private property.
As we prepare for the 2011 local government elections, it will be interesting to hear what politicians will promise the electorate. I hope they tell the masses how they intend addressing their concerns and to improve the delivery of services. Similarly, I wish communities will continue the culture of exerting pressure on government to deliver, but not through violent protest or damage to public and private property.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Kicking out the homeless and other house-cleaning activities
I just read an article suggesting that South Africa’s homeless will be moved out of the cities and into the townships to keep the streets cleaner during the World Cup. It seems that the inconvenience of having people sleeping on the streets has become too much to bear and instead they should be shipped out to keep SA pretty for the guests. The article quotes a “Johannesburg local government spokesperson” who says that “You have to clean the house before you have guests”. The fact that they didn’t give his name makes me wonder if it’s a real quote, but nonetheless it’s important to consider this idea.When I was a student at Rhodes we were always amazed at how a similar thing happened during orientation week and graduation weekend. Suddenly the street children and homeless people who we had come to know from the area were whisked away to god knows where for the period when all the families and parents were around. We used to remark on this every year, but never really made an effort to find out where they went.
Now I am intrigued. Where did they all go and more importantly, who took them there? Is this something that happens in many of South Africa’s cities when they are trying to look “presentable”. I’d be interested to hear more feedback from the government on this.
I don’t think it’s acceptable to hide a country’s poverty simple for reasons of posterity or aesthetics. People who are coming here know that we have problems (which is probably why they’ve kitted themselves out with the latest in handbag hooks and fanny pouches) and I doubt they’re going to think, “shew, but South Africa is so clean“, because there are no homeless people around. So what would the justification be?
And what about the people who already live in those settlements where they’re being relocated to? Do they not also deserve some say in the matter given that many of them are already sharing scarce resources just to get through the day? It sounds old-regimish and scary to think that the people most starved of their rights in SA could be kicked to the curb in such a blase and blatant fashion. It is heartless to say the least. This is extremely worrying and I hope that the article was more sensationalist than factual.
'I knew it had to be his head exploding'
A mom who lost her son in a shack fire says a neighbour started the blaze because her house was in his way.
She says her son argued with the man hours before he died after he allegedly threatened to set fire to their shacks because they were built too close to his home.
Rosy Makhosa, 60, of Philippi, says she had no idea she was seeing her son Thulani Siyokwana, 26, for the last time when he went to his outside room at 9pm on Saturday.
Rosy was sleeping in her shack with her five-year-old granddaughter Zukhanye.
She says she was in bed when she heard footsteps in the yard.
"I knew my son was sleeping and when I heard his door open I shouted, asking him where he was going but he did not answer," she says.
Rosy says as soon as she heard somebody leaving her son's room she smelled smoke.
The panicked woman grabbed her grandchild and fled the house screaming.
Rosy says she got the sharp smell of petrol coming from her son's room shortly after the fire started.
"When I got out of the house I started screaming for help and a man came and tried to open Thulani's door but the fire was too strong," she says.
Horrified residents were unsure if Thulani was still inside - but when they heard an explosion they knew he had suffered an agonising death.
"When I heard the sound I knew it had to be his [Thulani's] head exploding," says the mom.
She says two weeks ago a neighbour threatened to set fire to her house.
"And now six houses burned down and a life was lost," says Rosy.
"He [the suspect] told me my house and my neighbour's were in his way and he couldn't walk between them."
Police spokesperson Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi says an inquest docket is open.
She says her son argued with the man hours before he died after he allegedly threatened to set fire to their shacks because they were built too close to his home.
Rosy Makhosa, 60, of Philippi, says she had no idea she was seeing her son Thulani Siyokwana, 26, for the last time when he went to his outside room at 9pm on Saturday.
Rosy was sleeping in her shack with her five-year-old granddaughter Zukhanye.
She says she was in bed when she heard footsteps in the yard.
"I knew my son was sleeping and when I heard his door open I shouted, asking him where he was going but he did not answer," she says.
Rosy says as soon as she heard somebody leaving her son's room she smelled smoke.
The panicked woman grabbed her grandchild and fled the house screaming.
Rosy says she got the sharp smell of petrol coming from her son's room shortly after the fire started.
"When I got out of the house I started screaming for help and a man came and tried to open Thulani's door but the fire was too strong," she says.
Horrified residents were unsure if Thulani was still inside - but when they heard an explosion they knew he had suffered an agonising death.
"When I heard the sound I knew it had to be his [Thulani's] head exploding," says the mom.
She says two weeks ago a neighbour threatened to set fire to her house.
"And now six houses burned down and a life was lost," says Rosy.
"He [the suspect] told me my house and my neighbour's were in his way and he couldn't walk between them."
Police spokesperson Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi says an inquest docket is open.
- Daily Voice
25 die of measles and diarrhoea
Almost a thousand children in the Western Cape have contracted measles since the outbreak in September, 13 of whom have died of related complications.
Also, an outbreak of diarrhoea had caused the deaths of 12 children.
Faiza Steyn of the provincial health department said the province had recorded 968 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles, of which the majority was from the Cape Town metropolitan area. At least five measles-related deaths occurred this month, she said.
Gauteng has had the most cases of measles, with 4 608; KwaZulu-Natal has had 1 251 and the Western Cape has had the third-highest number.
Steyn said this year's diarrhoea outbreak represented a 10 percent decrease in the number of cases recorded this time last year. Diarrhoea was an annual occurrence in hot weather combined with poor sanitation
Densely populated areas such as Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Phillipi, Cross Roads, Delft, Mfuleni, Du Noon and Nomzamo in Strand along with parts of the Overberg and the Winelands were worst affected by both measles and diarrhoea, said Steyn.
She earlier told the Cape Argus that diarrhoea, as one of the measles complications, could contribute to deaths associated with measles as well as those linked to pneumonia.
Last year, 37 city children under the age of five died of diarrhoea during February, March and April.
Also, an outbreak of diarrhoea had caused the deaths of 12 children.
Faiza Steyn of the provincial health department said the province had recorded 968 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles, of which the majority was from the Cape Town metropolitan area. At least five measles-related deaths occurred this month, she said.
Gauteng has had the most cases of measles, with 4 608; KwaZulu-Natal has had 1 251 and the Western Cape has had the third-highest number.
Steyn said this year's diarrhoea outbreak represented a 10 percent decrease in the number of cases recorded this time last year. Diarrhoea was an annual occurrence in hot weather combined with poor sanitation
Densely populated areas such as Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Phillipi, Cross Roads, Delft, Mfuleni, Du Noon and Nomzamo in Strand along with parts of the Overberg and the Winelands were worst affected by both measles and diarrhoea, said Steyn.
She earlier told the Cape Argus that diarrhoea, as one of the measles complications, could contribute to deaths associated with measles as well as those linked to pneumonia.
Last year, 37 city children under the age of five died of diarrhoea during February, March and April.
- Cape Argus
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Model Communities and Respectable Residents? Home and Housing in a Low-income Residential Estate in the Western Cape, South Africa
Abstract
Recent work on the post-apartheid city has paid little attention to how people grapple with new opportunities for urban living. This article explores the ways in which housing provision precipitated complex moral reasoning and social reorganisation among impoverished residents of a Cape Town shantytown as they attempted to actualise their ideals of respectability. These ideals overlapped with those of the state and planners associated with the housing project, but also differed in significant respects. For residents, ordentlikheid (decency, respectability) is concerned with appearances and with cementing reciprocal relationships, while for bureaucrats, respectability is an individual characteristic, fostered and manifested via education, responsibility and appearances. Tracing out the relationship between material conditions and ideational constructs, this article argues that, at certain moments, ongoing processes crystallise discursive forms and material practices in ways that draw attention to the grounds of their making and simultaneously make clear their unfinished nature.
- Informaworld
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Western Cape to involve all sectors in building homes
The private sector, employers, corporate social investors and private individuals will be encouraged to become involved in the Western Cape's provision of housing.
This was the word from Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela as he presented the DA's first housing budget. His portfolio will be renamed Human Settlements from April 1.
With a budget of just over R2 billion for this financial year, R1.9bn coming from the national government, Madikizela said his department would aim to service just over 18 000 sites and build 15 400 houses.
"The gap between sites and houses is still relatively small because of commitments that already exist and the lead times required for planning," said Madikizela.
The province had meanwhile taken over development of the N2 Gateway, along with nearly all project contracts ceded by Thubelisha. They were now managed along with its replacement, the Housing Development Agency.
"However, the department is currently appointing mediators to settle disputes unresolved by Thubelisha and the two consortiums working on the N2 Gateway," said Madikizela.
He said his department would also demand that Thubelisha return R33 million, paid for work which was never passed on to contractors.
This was the word from Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela as he presented the DA's first housing budget. His portfolio will be renamed Human Settlements from April 1.
With a budget of just over R2 billion for this financial year, R1.9bn coming from the national government, Madikizela said his department would aim to service just over 18 000 sites and build 15 400 houses.
"The gap between sites and houses is still relatively small because of commitments that already exist and the lead times required for planning," said Madikizela.
The province had meanwhile taken over development of the N2 Gateway, along with nearly all project contracts ceded by Thubelisha. They were now managed along with its replacement, the Housing Development Agency.
"However, the department is currently appointing mediators to settle disputes unresolved by Thubelisha and the two consortiums working on the N2 Gateway," said Madikizela.
He said his department would also demand that Thubelisha return R33 million, paid for work which was never passed on to contractors.
Over the next five-year cycle the DA would accelerate the provision of "housing opportunities" - a shift from the previous ANC policy of building houses, to housing people on serviced sites and giving them tools to build their own homes.
- Cape Times
Cape moves on RDP sales
Western Cape Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela has promised anti-graft measures will be heightened as it is much too easy to defraud his department.
He addressed the Western Cape legislature on Wednesday when he unpacked his department's R2-billion budget.
Madikizela wants to build 15 400 houses with his budget, but vowed that officials would return to homes already built to check whether the intended recipients still live there.
"People who are selling their houses and then go back to shacks benefit again because our systems are not really credible enough to be able to pick this up."
Madikizela said they would either evict people occupying homes illegally or ask them to buy the structures from the province.
- Iafrica.com
He addressed the Western Cape legislature on Wednesday when he unpacked his department's R2-billion budget.
Madikizela wants to build 15 400 houses with his budget, but vowed that officials would return to homes already built to check whether the intended recipients still live there.
"People who are selling their houses and then go back to shacks benefit again because our systems are not really credible enough to be able to pick this up."
Madikizela said they would either evict people occupying homes illegally or ask them to buy the structures from the province.
- Iafrica.com
Housing controls to be jacked up in the W. Cape
Western Cape Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela has promises anti-graft measures will be heightened as it is much too easy to defraud his department.
He addressed the Western Cape legislature on Wednesday when he unpacked his department’s R2 billion budget.
Madikizela wants to build 15 400 houses with his budget, but vowed that officials would return to homes already built to check whether the intended recipients still live there.
“People who are selling their houses and then go back to shacks benefit again because our systems are not really credible enough to be able to pick this up.”
Madikizela said they would either evict people occupying homes illegally or ask them to buy the structures from the province.
He addressed the Western Cape legislature on Wednesday when he unpacked his department’s R2 billion budget.
Madikizela wants to build 15 400 houses with his budget, but vowed that officials would return to homes already built to check whether the intended recipients still live there.
“People who are selling their houses and then go back to shacks benefit again because our systems are not really credible enough to be able to pick this up.”
Madikizela said they would either evict people occupying homes illegally or ask them to buy the structures from the province.
- Eyewitness News
2010 - Human Settlements in the Western Cape
Next week, on 31 March 2010, the Department of Local Government and Housing will cease to exist. It will be replaced, on 1 April, by two departments, the Department of Local Government and the Department of Human Settlements.
I will now be known as the Minister of Human Settlements in the Western Cape. Not only does this title better describe this government’s approach to the provision of housing opportunities, but the national government has, in fact, adopted our approach to housing provision.
Last year, when I first questioned the sustainability of the current approach and suggested a new approach that prioritised serviced sites over top structures and providing less assistance to more people, many people were sceptical. However, our approach now has the backing of President Jacob Zuma, who in his State of the Nation Address set a target of 500 000 serviced sites nationwide for the national Minister of Human Settlements, Tokyo Sexwale. At the most recent MinMEC meeting a little under two weeks ago, it was quite clear that the rest of the provinces are on board with this approach too.
It is gratifying to have others acknowledging what we have maintained to be the correct approach for many years.
Mr Speaker, in her State of the Province Address, the Premier reminded us that our mandate from the citizens of the Western Cape is to build an open opportunity society for all in this province.
Our approach is very much informed by that vision.
In an open opportunity society for all, human settlements are sustainable and integrated, providing access to social and economic opportunities for all.
In an opportunity society, your path in life is not determined by the circumstances of your birth, but rather by your talents and your efforts. In an opportunity society, a child born in poverty should nevertheless be able to become a brain surgeon or a company CEO, provided he/she has the talent and puts in the effort required to succeed.
I think we all acknowledge that we have a long way to go to achieve that vision. As the Premier said, “South Africa is not yet an opportunity society because too many people remain trapped in a cycle of poverty, with few realistic prospects, relying on state hand-outs to survive.”
We must also acknowledge that the desperate conditions in which many of our citizens live severely limit their chances of improving their situation and realising their true potential.
A child living in a shack, with no clean running water, no electricity, no sanitation, no refuse removal, must overcome far too much to succeed in life. We have to provide the opportunities for her/him to break free of the cycle of poverty and become all she/he can be.
You have heard, and will hear, from a number of my colleagues about various opportunities that will be provided or facilitated by this government. I will focus on how the Department of Human Settlements will assist with expanding opportunities for the citizens of the Western Cape.
Before unpacking our strategic plan and our programmes for the coming year, let me also acknowledge that, in the open opportunity society, governments are transparent and accountable. As such, it is important to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the current financial year before turning our attention to the next.
The challenges we have faced also provide insight into some of the obstacles we must overcome to realise our vision of integrated and sustainable human settlements.
The Western Cape received a R1.581 billion Integrated Housing and Human Settlement Grant for the 2009/10 financial year. By the end of this month, we would have spent approximately R1.501 billion, or 95 percent of our grant.
With this money, we have built 16 324 houses (exceeding our target of 16 000) and serviced 15 182 sites (falling short of our target of 16 000 by 5 percent).
The R80 million (five percent) under-expenditure relates to the problems we inherited on the N2 Gateway Project with the winding down of Thubelisha Homes.
As you may recall from my speech on the adjustment budget bill last December, we re-allocated R150 million originally earmarked for the N2 Gateway to other projects that were performing in the province. The province has since taken over the role of developer on the N2 Gateway, and nearly all project contracts have been ceded by Thubelisha to the department and are being managed in-house, with the Housing Development Agency (HDA) assisting as project manager.
However, the department is currently appointing mediators to settle disputes unresolved by Thubelisha and the two consortia working on the N2 Gateway. We are therefore applying to Treasury for the rollover of the R80 million under-expenditure against this commitment, since it is for work already completed.
We have also asked Thubelisha to return approximately R33 million that was paid to them for some of this work, but which was never passed on to the contractors.
The most positive development since last December, however, is that we have reached an agreement with the Ibuyile. We can expect construction to continue apace in the new financial year.
Another challenge we have faced this year is getting our provincial projects – Our Pride, Nuwe Begin, Mama’s Project and Thembelihle off the ground.
Essentially, we have spent a year retro-fitting planning requirements that should have been done prior to the projects being launched (before my appointment). As frustrating as the planning requirements are and believe me, I fully appreciate this frustration – we must be careful not to raise expectations among communities, which then simply cannot be met.
That being said, I believe there is much room for improvement in our planning and supply chain management procedures.
We must plan well in advance, taking into account all the processes that we are required to follow, to ensure that the targets we set ourselves are achievable.
In this regard, the department is exploring the viability of developing an Integrated Sustainable Human Settlement Framework for the Western Cape with a 2030 vision. Such a framework would allow the department to predict human settlement needs and plan accordingly over the medium to long term.
I also believe that supply chain management in the department and in Treasury must not only enforce adherence to the Public Finance Management Act; it must also facilitate that adherence by playing a much stronger supportive role to the strategic objectives of the department.
Most municipalities performed well in spending their 2009/10 allocations, although there were some municipalities that struggled:
George Municipality was a victim of one of its contractors’ cash flow problems which prevented them from starting a project. As a result, George spent only 55 percent of its budget.
Overstrand started its project in Kleinmond late due to a dispute about the implementing agent and a delay in the Record of Decision and, as a result, only spent 56 percent of its allocation.
Stellenbosch suffered from political instability this year, and only managed to spend 45 percent of its budget, while Saldanha also reached only 45 percent due to capacity problems.
Laingsburg and Prince Albert have bulk infrastructure limitations that need to be addressed, and thus spent zero and three percent respectively. These municipalities’ housing budgets are quite small. One option we need to consider with the national department is to use their housing allocations to fund bulk infrastructure.
We have been engaging with the national government about eliminating bulk infrastructure problems as an obstacle to human settlement development. It requires a closer alignment between MIG and Housing funding, among others. I am therefore pleased to inform you that a summit is planned for this year to address the alignment of funding – including the national departments of human settlements, cooperative governance and traditional affairs, water and environmental affairs, and energy, as well as the provincial departments of local government and housing/human settlements.
Besides the N2 Gateway under-spending of R80 million, all other under-expenditure was redirected to other projects with the capacity to spend, with the result that a number of municipalities exceeded 100 percent of their allocations in this financial year.
Mr Speaker, our number one goal over the next five years is to accelerate the provision of housing opportunities, by prioritising in-situ upgrading of informal settlements and providing security of tenure on serviced sites. We must ensure that backyard dwellers are also accommodated on available vacant land.
Housing opportunities encompass the full scope of housing assistance by the state and other providers from the provision of serviced sites, to rental units, to housing finance assistance, to a fully developed state-funded house. The common denominators in all housing opportunities and key indicators in the national government’s strategy too – are security of tenure and unrestricted access to basic services.
Besides accelerating delivery, this will allow those beneficiaries with the means to become agents of their own destiny and build their own houses on a serviced plot they now own.
The key shift is that all parties take full ownership of their responsibilities. The state accelerates the delivery of serviced sites, which are registered in the name of the new owner. The individual makes the effort to leverage other resources and puts in sweat equity to build a home; and the private sector is encouraged and incentivised to assist this includes bank finance, corporate social investment, employers and individuals, employee housing schemes, in particular, have the potential to unlock significant funding for self-build homes.
One group of employers who have already indicated a willingness to assist their employees if they are provided with somewhere to build are farmers. I have met with the Stellenbosch farming community, and I have asked my colleague, Minister van Rensburg, to facilitate a meeting with the provincial branch of Agri-SA, in order to take discussions further about the options available for assisting farm workers, and how we can work together to ensure they are helped. The first critical step is that municipalities must make sure that farm dwellers are included in their housing demand databases. Our starting point, too, is that, where it is feasible for farm workers to commute to work, housing opportunities should be provided in the nearest town, where the costs of providing municipal services are cheaper than on farms, and where residents have access to social amenities.
However, there are also other options for farmers and farm workers. Farmers can develop subsidised rental stock on their farms (or give a social housing institution a long-term lease to do so), or they can transfer some of their land to their workers. A key requirement of providing housing on farms, once again, is security of tenure.
Speaker, where possible, we must encourage people not to wait for the state. Many houses built in rural areas – for example, in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were built with no assistance from the state whatsoever. People did it themselves, sometimes very slowly. We must ensure that those people who take charge of their own destiny have access to financial assistance and support. In this regard, I believe we need the available subsidy instruments to be expanded further to include state-backed loans.
The President has announced a R1 billion guarantee fund to encourage banks to finance affordable housing. However, the focus of this fund is, rightly, on the gap market. I believe we also need to grow housing micro-finance in the low-income housing market to assist people to build their own homes.
Having said that, closing the gap between subsidised housing and the bonded market is crucial, to underscore how seriously we take this issue, we have created a Directorate of Affordable Housing in the department. This directorate will be responsible for rental housing and what we refer to as Gap housing.
But a key element of this directorate’s function will be building partnerships.
I recently returned from the United Kingdom where I attended a conference on social housing, as well as visiting a number of projects and meeting many experts in the field. What struck me most on my visit was the extent to which they created multi-sectoral partnerships to tackle social issues through housing. Everything centres on housing. For example, social housing associations tackle issues of substance abuse, unhealthy lifestyles, crime and unemployment (through housing).
We already have some pilot projects here in the Western Cape for example, the violence prevention through urban upgrade programme under the city of Cape Town. However, today is World TB Day, and another area where we can make a significant impact is in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and other preventable diseases. By improving the living conditions of many more people, we can reduce the burden of disease in our province, and hopefully generate savings that can be ploughed into other areas of need.
We must have a co-ordinated approach to all these issues. But we must not try and do everything ourselves. We must acknowledge that the state’s capacity is limited and draw in partners from the private sector and civil society to assist us.
Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a sustainable means of providing housing especially in the rental and affordable market. In the UK, the state does not provide housing, Social Housing Associations do. And the state funds only 40 percent of new developments. 60 percent must be raised from the associations’ own income and financing. Giving away free houses is not sustainable in the long run. Rental housing and PPPs are.
Next month, I will be launching our Rental Housing Strategy, which will plot a way forward in this regard. A key focus of this strategy is to enhance the management of rental stock to improve rent collection and property maintenance.
We have met partners in the United Kingdom (UK) who are very keen to assist us with support for social housing institutions in the Western Cape, as well as building capacity and expertise in our own department. We will certainly be taking them up on their generous offers.
As I said during the debate on the Premier’s State of the Province Address, the up-scaling of serviced sites will not happen overnight.
Our budget for the 2010/11 financial year is just over R2 billion, of which a little under R1.9 billion is funded by the integrated housing and human settlement grant. With this allocation, we aim to service a little over 18 000 sites and build 15 400 houses. The gap between sites and houses is still relatively small, because of the commitments that already exist and the lead times required for planning.
However, it is our intention to gradually increase that gap between now and 2014. This gradual increase will allow us to provide 150 000 serviced sites over five years, as opposed to only 80 000 if we maintained a business-as-usual approach.
This is what the Premier might refer to as a stretch target. But it will also only deliver housing opportunities to about a third of the current backlog. So we must stretch ourselves, and strive to meet that target.
The Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) is central to achieving this target. In order to assist us with planning, we have appointed a service provider to establish an informal settlement database for the Western Cape. This database will make preliminary recommendations of potential short, medium and long term support to be offered in terms of upgrading, and will ultimately guide the development of a Provincial Master Plan for Informal Settlements. We have budgeted R1.9 million for this project, which will be completed in the coming financial year.
Many informal settlements are created due to their proximity to social amenities, transport corridors and economic opportunities.
We must maximise the number of households that can remain in those settlements after upgrading them. We have to increase the density of our projects on well-located land. We have set ourselves a target of 90 dwelling units per hectare (average net density) on well-located land by 2014/15. A good example of this is Joe Slovo: in order to accommodate as many of the current occupants as possible, we have drafted a site layout that achieves a density of 110 units per hectare.
Besides maximising the value we extract from every hectare we upgrade, higher density developments have other benefits, such as savings in infrastructure and increasing access to affordable public transport.
The truth is that, between the province and the municipalities, we own a lot of vacant and under-utilised land within the urban edge about 7 800 hectares. Not all of it is developable, and much of it must undergo environmental and planning approval before it can be released. Most municipalities have identified enough land for at least the next two years of human settlement development. But we must start planning now for the release of land we will need for the greater numbers of serviced sites in subsequent years.
For its part, the department will release 300 hectares of land to developers and municipalities for the development of human settlements in the current financial year. We will also be working with the HDA to secure the release of well-located land owned by national departments and state entities for human settlement development.
I should also note that the provincial government is only one role player in human settlement development. Municipalities, in particular, are central to realising our vision, while National Government also influences what can be achieved as I have already mentioned. It is very important that we have a co-ordinated approach across all spheres of government and across provincial departments to integrated development planning and, in particular, human settlement planning.
Speaker, as you would have gathered from my report on the current financial year, there are some capacity challenges, both in the department and in a number of municipalities.
To address the former, we are establishing a project management unit (PMU) in the office of the Head of Department to develop a project management culture in the department. We anticipate that this unit will be operational within the first six months of this financial year. All human settlement projects will be monitored by the PMU using an Executive Dashboard system from first planning to final handover allowing early detection of potential risks and blockages, which can then be mitigated, rectified or avoided altogether.
To address capacity problems at local level, we have budgeted R3.3 million to strengthen support to municipalities. We must ensure alignment of municipal human settlement plans to the provincial and national strategic plans. This includes ensuring that future developments meet sustainability criteria based on the triple bottom line – that is, financial, social and environmental. With respect to the latter, we start with a modest target of 10 percent of houses built using energy efficient methods in 2010/11; but we wish to see this increased to 40 percent by 2014/15.
This year, we worked with six municipalities in our built environment support programme to compile credible human settlement plans and spatial development frameworks. Some cross-cutting issues were identified, including a lack of strategic focus of Integrated Development Plans.
Based on the lessons learned, we are taking a slightly different approach with the next six municipalities. We will appoint service providers to do a thorough gap analysis for each municipality, detailing the gaps in their spatial development frameworks and IDPs, as well as the proposed methodology to be used and the estimated costs of the work needed to close those gaps.
At the end of this process, each municipality will be in a position to draw up project pipelines for short, medium and long term planning, resulting in improved integrated planning.
We will also establish a provincial planning forum this year to get all role players to plan according to the new and improved human settlement plans. By placing credible human settlement plans at the centre of our forward planning, we will be able to ensure that more citizens have access to schools, clinics and other community facilities, as well as economic opportunities.
Those municipalities with the capacity will be assisted to apply for housing accreditation, in order to take on more responsibilities that are currently the preserve of the province. The City of Cape Town has already applied and been assessed for level 1 and 2 accreditation. We await the national minister’s final approval.
In addition to our focus on improved planning both at provincial and municipal level, we are introducing a regional approach to housing delivery. We have created a regional directorate with two sub-directorates one to look after Eden and the Central Karoo and one to look after the Cape Winelands. For the time being, the city of Cape Town, Overberg and the West Coast will still be assisted by the primary line function directorates in Cape Town. Our intention is to place the project packaging and implementation support we provide much closer to municipalities.
Mr Speaker, as I said earlier, if our human settlements are to be sustainable, it is also important that beneficiaries of state assistance take personal responsibility for their role. A key objective of the government in this regard is to inculcate a sense of ownership among housing beneficiaries and to increase awareness of, and buy-in to, their rights and responsibilities.
In the short-term, we are reviewing our consumer education programme. We are not satisfied that the funding we have provided to municipalities in the past has had the desired effect. This year, we have budgeted R1.05 million for workshops with prospective and new beneficiaries, as well as municipal officials working in human settlements.
In the medium to long term, we intend to upscale the proportion of the houses we build using the People's Housing Project (PHP) programme. People who make a contribution to build of their houses whether financial or with their own labour are proud of what they have built and appreciate the true value of their assets. In 2010/11, 25 percent of the houses we build will be through the PHP programme. By 2014/15, that will increase to 50 percent.
But as I said last year, we must address the institutional gaps and problems with PHP. To this end, I am happy to announce that our new Director of PHP starts on 1 April 2010. Her first job will be to improve the project management and administration capacity of her unit. We are introducing a much more hands-approach to PHP, with project managers on the ground with beneficiaries.
Speaker, it is crucial that the selection of beneficiaries is not just fair, but also seen to be fair.
In this regard, we have budgeted R4.5 million towards developing a standardised, transparent and fair policy and process for the selection of housing beneficiaries based on an improved quality of data and information management. This includes the implementation of the municipal housing demand database support programme, which will ensure that proper data is collected and captured into the national housing subsidy system needs register for verification, and maintained on an ongoing basis.
Beneficiary selection must take into account the profile of the people that are inadequately housed in a municipality, and treat them equitably.
Besides ensuring that the needs of backyarders are addressed in the selection of beneficiaries for green field developments, we have also begun to investigate the feasibility of upgrading the conditions of backyarders where they are. The city of Cape Town is working on a pilot project to upgrade the conditions of backyarders on their own properties. The in-situ upgrading of backyarders on privately held land is much more of a challenge, with many potential unintended consequences something Gauteng learnt, to its cost.
We don’t yet have the answers to this challenge. But we cannot ignore it either. We will continue to engage with municipalities, universities and other think tanks to come up with novel approaches to overcoming difficult challenges such as this one.
Thank you.
I will now be known as the Minister of Human Settlements in the Western Cape. Not only does this title better describe this government’s approach to the provision of housing opportunities, but the national government has, in fact, adopted our approach to housing provision.
Last year, when I first questioned the sustainability of the current approach and suggested a new approach that prioritised serviced sites over top structures and providing less assistance to more people, many people were sceptical. However, our approach now has the backing of President Jacob Zuma, who in his State of the Nation Address set a target of 500 000 serviced sites nationwide for the national Minister of Human Settlements, Tokyo Sexwale. At the most recent MinMEC meeting a little under two weeks ago, it was quite clear that the rest of the provinces are on board with this approach too.
It is gratifying to have others acknowledging what we have maintained to be the correct approach for many years.
Mr Speaker, in her State of the Province Address, the Premier reminded us that our mandate from the citizens of the Western Cape is to build an open opportunity society for all in this province.
Our approach is very much informed by that vision.
In an open opportunity society for all, human settlements are sustainable and integrated, providing access to social and economic opportunities for all.
In an opportunity society, your path in life is not determined by the circumstances of your birth, but rather by your talents and your efforts. In an opportunity society, a child born in poverty should nevertheless be able to become a brain surgeon or a company CEO, provided he/she has the talent and puts in the effort required to succeed.
I think we all acknowledge that we have a long way to go to achieve that vision. As the Premier said, “South Africa is not yet an opportunity society because too many people remain trapped in a cycle of poverty, with few realistic prospects, relying on state hand-outs to survive.”
We must also acknowledge that the desperate conditions in which many of our citizens live severely limit their chances of improving their situation and realising their true potential.
A child living in a shack, with no clean running water, no electricity, no sanitation, no refuse removal, must overcome far too much to succeed in life. We have to provide the opportunities for her/him to break free of the cycle of poverty and become all she/he can be.
You have heard, and will hear, from a number of my colleagues about various opportunities that will be provided or facilitated by this government. I will focus on how the Department of Human Settlements will assist with expanding opportunities for the citizens of the Western Cape.
Before unpacking our strategic plan and our programmes for the coming year, let me also acknowledge that, in the open opportunity society, governments are transparent and accountable. As such, it is important to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the current financial year before turning our attention to the next.
The challenges we have faced also provide insight into some of the obstacles we must overcome to realise our vision of integrated and sustainable human settlements.
The Western Cape received a R1.581 billion Integrated Housing and Human Settlement Grant for the 2009/10 financial year. By the end of this month, we would have spent approximately R1.501 billion, or 95 percent of our grant.
With this money, we have built 16 324 houses (exceeding our target of 16 000) and serviced 15 182 sites (falling short of our target of 16 000 by 5 percent).
The R80 million (five percent) under-expenditure relates to the problems we inherited on the N2 Gateway Project with the winding down of Thubelisha Homes.
As you may recall from my speech on the adjustment budget bill last December, we re-allocated R150 million originally earmarked for the N2 Gateway to other projects that were performing in the province. The province has since taken over the role of developer on the N2 Gateway, and nearly all project contracts have been ceded by Thubelisha to the department and are being managed in-house, with the Housing Development Agency (HDA) assisting as project manager.
However, the department is currently appointing mediators to settle disputes unresolved by Thubelisha and the two consortia working on the N2 Gateway. We are therefore applying to Treasury for the rollover of the R80 million under-expenditure against this commitment, since it is for work already completed.
We have also asked Thubelisha to return approximately R33 million that was paid to them for some of this work, but which was never passed on to the contractors.
The most positive development since last December, however, is that we have reached an agreement with the Ibuyile. We can expect construction to continue apace in the new financial year.
Another challenge we have faced this year is getting our provincial projects – Our Pride, Nuwe Begin, Mama’s Project and Thembelihle off the ground.
Essentially, we have spent a year retro-fitting planning requirements that should have been done prior to the projects being launched (before my appointment). As frustrating as the planning requirements are and believe me, I fully appreciate this frustration – we must be careful not to raise expectations among communities, which then simply cannot be met.
That being said, I believe there is much room for improvement in our planning and supply chain management procedures.
We must plan well in advance, taking into account all the processes that we are required to follow, to ensure that the targets we set ourselves are achievable.
In this regard, the department is exploring the viability of developing an Integrated Sustainable Human Settlement Framework for the Western Cape with a 2030 vision. Such a framework would allow the department to predict human settlement needs and plan accordingly over the medium to long term.
I also believe that supply chain management in the department and in Treasury must not only enforce adherence to the Public Finance Management Act; it must also facilitate that adherence by playing a much stronger supportive role to the strategic objectives of the department.
Most municipalities performed well in spending their 2009/10 allocations, although there were some municipalities that struggled:
George Municipality was a victim of one of its contractors’ cash flow problems which prevented them from starting a project. As a result, George spent only 55 percent of its budget.
Overstrand started its project in Kleinmond late due to a dispute about the implementing agent and a delay in the Record of Decision and, as a result, only spent 56 percent of its allocation.
Stellenbosch suffered from political instability this year, and only managed to spend 45 percent of its budget, while Saldanha also reached only 45 percent due to capacity problems.
Laingsburg and Prince Albert have bulk infrastructure limitations that need to be addressed, and thus spent zero and three percent respectively. These municipalities’ housing budgets are quite small. One option we need to consider with the national department is to use their housing allocations to fund bulk infrastructure.
We have been engaging with the national government about eliminating bulk infrastructure problems as an obstacle to human settlement development. It requires a closer alignment between MIG and Housing funding, among others. I am therefore pleased to inform you that a summit is planned for this year to address the alignment of funding – including the national departments of human settlements, cooperative governance and traditional affairs, water and environmental affairs, and energy, as well as the provincial departments of local government and housing/human settlements.
Besides the N2 Gateway under-spending of R80 million, all other under-expenditure was redirected to other projects with the capacity to spend, with the result that a number of municipalities exceeded 100 percent of their allocations in this financial year.
Mr Speaker, our number one goal over the next five years is to accelerate the provision of housing opportunities, by prioritising in-situ upgrading of informal settlements and providing security of tenure on serviced sites. We must ensure that backyard dwellers are also accommodated on available vacant land.
Housing opportunities encompass the full scope of housing assistance by the state and other providers from the provision of serviced sites, to rental units, to housing finance assistance, to a fully developed state-funded house. The common denominators in all housing opportunities and key indicators in the national government’s strategy too – are security of tenure and unrestricted access to basic services.
Besides accelerating delivery, this will allow those beneficiaries with the means to become agents of their own destiny and build their own houses on a serviced plot they now own.
The key shift is that all parties take full ownership of their responsibilities. The state accelerates the delivery of serviced sites, which are registered in the name of the new owner. The individual makes the effort to leverage other resources and puts in sweat equity to build a home; and the private sector is encouraged and incentivised to assist this includes bank finance, corporate social investment, employers and individuals, employee housing schemes, in particular, have the potential to unlock significant funding for self-build homes.
One group of employers who have already indicated a willingness to assist their employees if they are provided with somewhere to build are farmers. I have met with the Stellenbosch farming community, and I have asked my colleague, Minister van Rensburg, to facilitate a meeting with the provincial branch of Agri-SA, in order to take discussions further about the options available for assisting farm workers, and how we can work together to ensure they are helped. The first critical step is that municipalities must make sure that farm dwellers are included in their housing demand databases. Our starting point, too, is that, where it is feasible for farm workers to commute to work, housing opportunities should be provided in the nearest town, where the costs of providing municipal services are cheaper than on farms, and where residents have access to social amenities.
However, there are also other options for farmers and farm workers. Farmers can develop subsidised rental stock on their farms (or give a social housing institution a long-term lease to do so), or they can transfer some of their land to their workers. A key requirement of providing housing on farms, once again, is security of tenure.
Speaker, where possible, we must encourage people not to wait for the state. Many houses built in rural areas – for example, in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were built with no assistance from the state whatsoever. People did it themselves, sometimes very slowly. We must ensure that those people who take charge of their own destiny have access to financial assistance and support. In this regard, I believe we need the available subsidy instruments to be expanded further to include state-backed loans.
The President has announced a R1 billion guarantee fund to encourage banks to finance affordable housing. However, the focus of this fund is, rightly, on the gap market. I believe we also need to grow housing micro-finance in the low-income housing market to assist people to build their own homes.
Having said that, closing the gap between subsidised housing and the bonded market is crucial, to underscore how seriously we take this issue, we have created a Directorate of Affordable Housing in the department. This directorate will be responsible for rental housing and what we refer to as Gap housing.
But a key element of this directorate’s function will be building partnerships.
I recently returned from the United Kingdom where I attended a conference on social housing, as well as visiting a number of projects and meeting many experts in the field. What struck me most on my visit was the extent to which they created multi-sectoral partnerships to tackle social issues through housing. Everything centres on housing. For example, social housing associations tackle issues of substance abuse, unhealthy lifestyles, crime and unemployment (through housing).
We already have some pilot projects here in the Western Cape for example, the violence prevention through urban upgrade programme under the city of Cape Town. However, today is World TB Day, and another area where we can make a significant impact is in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and other preventable diseases. By improving the living conditions of many more people, we can reduce the burden of disease in our province, and hopefully generate savings that can be ploughed into other areas of need.
We must have a co-ordinated approach to all these issues. But we must not try and do everything ourselves. We must acknowledge that the state’s capacity is limited and draw in partners from the private sector and civil society to assist us.
Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a sustainable means of providing housing especially in the rental and affordable market. In the UK, the state does not provide housing, Social Housing Associations do. And the state funds only 40 percent of new developments. 60 percent must be raised from the associations’ own income and financing. Giving away free houses is not sustainable in the long run. Rental housing and PPPs are.
Next month, I will be launching our Rental Housing Strategy, which will plot a way forward in this regard. A key focus of this strategy is to enhance the management of rental stock to improve rent collection and property maintenance.
We have met partners in the United Kingdom (UK) who are very keen to assist us with support for social housing institutions in the Western Cape, as well as building capacity and expertise in our own department. We will certainly be taking them up on their generous offers.
As I said during the debate on the Premier’s State of the Province Address, the up-scaling of serviced sites will not happen overnight.
Our budget for the 2010/11 financial year is just over R2 billion, of which a little under R1.9 billion is funded by the integrated housing and human settlement grant. With this allocation, we aim to service a little over 18 000 sites and build 15 400 houses. The gap between sites and houses is still relatively small, because of the commitments that already exist and the lead times required for planning.
However, it is our intention to gradually increase that gap between now and 2014. This gradual increase will allow us to provide 150 000 serviced sites over five years, as opposed to only 80 000 if we maintained a business-as-usual approach.
This is what the Premier might refer to as a stretch target. But it will also only deliver housing opportunities to about a third of the current backlog. So we must stretch ourselves, and strive to meet that target.
The Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) is central to achieving this target. In order to assist us with planning, we have appointed a service provider to establish an informal settlement database for the Western Cape. This database will make preliminary recommendations of potential short, medium and long term support to be offered in terms of upgrading, and will ultimately guide the development of a Provincial Master Plan for Informal Settlements. We have budgeted R1.9 million for this project, which will be completed in the coming financial year.
Many informal settlements are created due to their proximity to social amenities, transport corridors and economic opportunities.
We must maximise the number of households that can remain in those settlements after upgrading them. We have to increase the density of our projects on well-located land. We have set ourselves a target of 90 dwelling units per hectare (average net density) on well-located land by 2014/15. A good example of this is Joe Slovo: in order to accommodate as many of the current occupants as possible, we have drafted a site layout that achieves a density of 110 units per hectare.
Besides maximising the value we extract from every hectare we upgrade, higher density developments have other benefits, such as savings in infrastructure and increasing access to affordable public transport.
The truth is that, between the province and the municipalities, we own a lot of vacant and under-utilised land within the urban edge about 7 800 hectares. Not all of it is developable, and much of it must undergo environmental and planning approval before it can be released. Most municipalities have identified enough land for at least the next two years of human settlement development. But we must start planning now for the release of land we will need for the greater numbers of serviced sites in subsequent years.
For its part, the department will release 300 hectares of land to developers and municipalities for the development of human settlements in the current financial year. We will also be working with the HDA to secure the release of well-located land owned by national departments and state entities for human settlement development.
I should also note that the provincial government is only one role player in human settlement development. Municipalities, in particular, are central to realising our vision, while National Government also influences what can be achieved as I have already mentioned. It is very important that we have a co-ordinated approach across all spheres of government and across provincial departments to integrated development planning and, in particular, human settlement planning.
Speaker, as you would have gathered from my report on the current financial year, there are some capacity challenges, both in the department and in a number of municipalities.
To address the former, we are establishing a project management unit (PMU) in the office of the Head of Department to develop a project management culture in the department. We anticipate that this unit will be operational within the first six months of this financial year. All human settlement projects will be monitored by the PMU using an Executive Dashboard system from first planning to final handover allowing early detection of potential risks and blockages, which can then be mitigated, rectified or avoided altogether.
To address capacity problems at local level, we have budgeted R3.3 million to strengthen support to municipalities. We must ensure alignment of municipal human settlement plans to the provincial and national strategic plans. This includes ensuring that future developments meet sustainability criteria based on the triple bottom line – that is, financial, social and environmental. With respect to the latter, we start with a modest target of 10 percent of houses built using energy efficient methods in 2010/11; but we wish to see this increased to 40 percent by 2014/15.
This year, we worked with six municipalities in our built environment support programme to compile credible human settlement plans and spatial development frameworks. Some cross-cutting issues were identified, including a lack of strategic focus of Integrated Development Plans.
Based on the lessons learned, we are taking a slightly different approach with the next six municipalities. We will appoint service providers to do a thorough gap analysis for each municipality, detailing the gaps in their spatial development frameworks and IDPs, as well as the proposed methodology to be used and the estimated costs of the work needed to close those gaps.
At the end of this process, each municipality will be in a position to draw up project pipelines for short, medium and long term planning, resulting in improved integrated planning.
We will also establish a provincial planning forum this year to get all role players to plan according to the new and improved human settlement plans. By placing credible human settlement plans at the centre of our forward planning, we will be able to ensure that more citizens have access to schools, clinics and other community facilities, as well as economic opportunities.
Those municipalities with the capacity will be assisted to apply for housing accreditation, in order to take on more responsibilities that are currently the preserve of the province. The City of Cape Town has already applied and been assessed for level 1 and 2 accreditation. We await the national minister’s final approval.
In addition to our focus on improved planning both at provincial and municipal level, we are introducing a regional approach to housing delivery. We have created a regional directorate with two sub-directorates one to look after Eden and the Central Karoo and one to look after the Cape Winelands. For the time being, the city of Cape Town, Overberg and the West Coast will still be assisted by the primary line function directorates in Cape Town. Our intention is to place the project packaging and implementation support we provide much closer to municipalities.
Mr Speaker, as I said earlier, if our human settlements are to be sustainable, it is also important that beneficiaries of state assistance take personal responsibility for their role. A key objective of the government in this regard is to inculcate a sense of ownership among housing beneficiaries and to increase awareness of, and buy-in to, their rights and responsibilities.
In the short-term, we are reviewing our consumer education programme. We are not satisfied that the funding we have provided to municipalities in the past has had the desired effect. This year, we have budgeted R1.05 million for workshops with prospective and new beneficiaries, as well as municipal officials working in human settlements.
In the medium to long term, we intend to upscale the proportion of the houses we build using the People's Housing Project (PHP) programme. People who make a contribution to build of their houses whether financial or with their own labour are proud of what they have built and appreciate the true value of their assets. In 2010/11, 25 percent of the houses we build will be through the PHP programme. By 2014/15, that will increase to 50 percent.
But as I said last year, we must address the institutional gaps and problems with PHP. To this end, I am happy to announce that our new Director of PHP starts on 1 April 2010. Her first job will be to improve the project management and administration capacity of her unit. We are introducing a much more hands-approach to PHP, with project managers on the ground with beneficiaries.
Speaker, it is crucial that the selection of beneficiaries is not just fair, but also seen to be fair.
In this regard, we have budgeted R4.5 million towards developing a standardised, transparent and fair policy and process for the selection of housing beneficiaries based on an improved quality of data and information management. This includes the implementation of the municipal housing demand database support programme, which will ensure that proper data is collected and captured into the national housing subsidy system needs register for verification, and maintained on an ongoing basis.
Beneficiary selection must take into account the profile of the people that are inadequately housed in a municipality, and treat them equitably.
Besides ensuring that the needs of backyarders are addressed in the selection of beneficiaries for green field developments, we have also begun to investigate the feasibility of upgrading the conditions of backyarders where they are. The city of Cape Town is working on a pilot project to upgrade the conditions of backyarders on their own properties. The in-situ upgrading of backyarders on privately held land is much more of a challenge, with many potential unintended consequences something Gauteng learnt, to its cost.
We don’t yet have the answers to this challenge. But we cannot ignore it either. We will continue to engage with municipalities, universities and other think tanks to come up with novel approaches to overcoming difficult challenges such as this one.
No government or party has a monopoly on good ideas. We have a good vision, and many good ideas to work towards that vision, but we remain open to any innovations that can help us realise our vision of an open opportunity society for all.
Thank you.
- info.gov.za
South Africa: Middle Class and Poor Have Same Axe to Grind in Poor Services - Analyst
Members of the PAC chant slogans during the commemoration of the killing of 69 people at Sharpeville black township a half century ago, in Johannesburg
In an interview with Business Day, Political analyst, Professor Stephen Friedman, says government is showing some sensitivity by refusing to take hard action against service delivery protests.
But that could be a double edged sword.
"The problem is not going to go away in the next year - and yes, if not dealt with, then people are going to get more angry" said Friedman.
According to Friedman, the protests are not about Serivce Delivery, but he says they're about "people not being listened to".
He includes the growing anger amongst the middle class in South Africa, where at least 40 towns have now withheld part of their rates and taxes as infrastructure collapses.
Friedman says both the poor and the Middle Class have one thing in common, and that's being ignored by government.
But he says when it comes to local issues, the middle Class and poor have conflicting interests.
The poor would want cash to be donated to support their cause, while the middle class is regarded by government as the country's cash cow as taxes are hiked linked to land rates, power, city taxes, and a slew of related increases aimed at the middle Class.
In the last month, more violence has broken out as communities complain that nothing is improving in their local services. The clashes have seen police opening fire with buckshot and hundreds being arrested.
The areas include Soshanguve, Brits, Ogies, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Sebokeng, Soweto, Mamelodi, Bronkhorstspruit, Reiger Park, Daveyton, Ennerdale, Attridgeville, and Ramaphosa informal settlement.
In an interview with Business Day, Political analyst, Professor Stephen Friedman, says government is showing some sensitivity by refusing to take hard action against service delivery protests.
But that could be a double edged sword.
"The problem is not going to go away in the next year - and yes, if not dealt with, then people are going to get more angry" said Friedman.
According to Friedman, the protests are not about Serivce Delivery, but he says they're about "people not being listened to".
He includes the growing anger amongst the middle class in South Africa, where at least 40 towns have now withheld part of their rates and taxes as infrastructure collapses.
Friedman says both the poor and the Middle Class have one thing in common, and that's being ignored by government.
But he says when it comes to local issues, the middle Class and poor have conflicting interests.
The poor would want cash to be donated to support their cause, while the middle class is regarded by government as the country's cash cow as taxes are hiked linked to land rates, power, city taxes, and a slew of related increases aimed at the middle Class.
In the last month, more violence has broken out as communities complain that nothing is improving in their local services. The clashes have seen police opening fire with buckshot and hundreds being arrested.
The areas include Soshanguve, Brits, Ogies, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Sebokeng, Soweto, Mamelodi, Bronkhorstspruit, Reiger Park, Daveyton, Ennerdale, Attridgeville, and Ramaphosa informal settlement.
- Business Day
Housing controls to be jacked up in the W. Cape
Western Cape Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela has promises anti-graft measures will be heightened as it is much too easy to defraud his department.
He addressed the Western Cape legislature on Wednesday when he unpacked his department’s R2 billion budget.
Madikizela wants to build 15 400 houses with his budget, but vowed that officials would return to homes already built to check whether the intended recipients still live there.
“People who are selling their houses and then go back to shacks benefit again because our systems are not really credible enough to be able to pick this up.”
Madikizela said they would either evict people occupying homes illegally or ask them to buy the structures from the province.
He addressed the Western Cape legislature on Wednesday when he unpacked his department’s R2 billion budget.
Madikizela wants to build 15 400 houses with his budget, but vowed that officials would return to homes already built to check whether the intended recipients still live there.
“People who are selling their houses and then go back to shacks benefit again because our systems are not really credible enough to be able to pick this up.”
Madikizela said they would either evict people occupying homes illegally or ask them to buy the structures from the province.
- Eyewitness News
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Experts warn on rise in TB cases
The high incidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the country is increasing at an alarming rate, and if case detection and adherence to treatment are not heightened urgently, the figures could spiral out of control, the city's TB experts have warned.
Speaking before World TB Day today, Professor Harry Hausler of the TB/HIV Care Association said the devastation with which TB and HIV acted in unison meant that anyone involved in the fight against these infectious diseases must team up, and communities formed part of the solution to the problem.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures released this week, out of 440 000 multi-drug-resistant (MDR) cases globally during 2008, about 13 000 were recorded in South Africa.
The Western Cape had registered more than 1 000 new cases of MDR and extreme-drug resistant (XDR) in the past two years, bringing the figures to more than 2 000 cases...
Speaking before World TB Day today, Professor Harry Hausler of the TB/HIV Care Association said the devastation with which TB and HIV acted in unison meant that anyone involved in the fight against these infectious diseases must team up, and communities formed part of the solution to the problem.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures released this week, out of 440 000 multi-drug-resistant (MDR) cases globally during 2008, about 13 000 were recorded in South Africa.
The Western Cape had registered more than 1 000 new cases of MDR and extreme-drug resistant (XDR) in the past two years, bringing the figures to more than 2 000 cases...
Read More - Cape Argus
Just when you thought Government would be helpfull...
CONTENTS: Government Financial Assistance...
Please follow the above link and try find out something on housing subsidies...
Cape will produce ministerial guide - Zille
The Western Cape is set to tighten controls over the spending of its top politicians by producing its own ministerial handbook, Premier Helen Zille said on Tuesday.
Speaking in debate on the premier's budget vote in the legislature, she said her administration did not believe that people's money should be spent on "expensive cars, lavish parties and other luxuries that only benefit politicians".
This year it would produce a new ministerial handbook for the Western Cape cabinet.
This would override the current ministerial handbook produced by national government, which applied to the national cabinet as well as all nine provincial executives.
"The current national ministerial handbook facilitates and legalises a form of power abuse," she said.
"When it is pointed out to national ministers that spending R1.2-million of public money on a ministerial car is excessive, they refer to the ministerial handbook which allows them to spend the equivalent of 70 percent of their salary on a car.
"In the Western Cape, no provincial minister will be able to use this excuse."
The handbook would start by reducing the amount that could be spent on a ministerial car to "a more appropriate amount".
It would also tighten control over the office budgets of the premier and each minister.
It would reduce the scope for spending on items that had no direct bearing on service delivery such as parties, perks and functions. It would introduce regulations on the use of blue lights on ministerial vehicles - a step which Zille promised earlier this month.
"We are also going to review the rules around ministers' hotel stays, flights and house alterations," Zille said.
"The rules will be amended so that they are in line with the 'no frills' ethos of this government and our consciences.
"We cannot call on citizens to take personal responsibility, unless we use the people's money responsibly and ethically." - Sapa
Speaking in debate on the premier's budget vote in the legislature, she said her administration did not believe that people's money should be spent on "expensive cars, lavish parties and other luxuries that only benefit politicians".
This year it would produce a new ministerial handbook for the Western Cape cabinet.
This would override the current ministerial handbook produced by national government, which applied to the national cabinet as well as all nine provincial executives.
"The current national ministerial handbook facilitates and legalises a form of power abuse," she said.
"When it is pointed out to national ministers that spending R1.2-million of public money on a ministerial car is excessive, they refer to the ministerial handbook which allows them to spend the equivalent of 70 percent of their salary on a car.
"In the Western Cape, no provincial minister will be able to use this excuse."
The handbook would start by reducing the amount that could be spent on a ministerial car to "a more appropriate amount".
It would also tighten control over the office budgets of the premier and each minister.
It would reduce the scope for spending on items that had no direct bearing on service delivery such as parties, perks and functions. It would introduce regulations on the use of blue lights on ministerial vehicles - a step which Zille promised earlier this month.
"We are also going to review the rules around ministers' hotel stays, flights and house alterations," Zille said.
"The rules will be amended so that they are in line with the 'no frills' ethos of this government and our consciences.
"We cannot call on citizens to take personal responsibility, unless we use the people's money responsibly and ethically." - Sapa
Ehm - real life... I was sitting at the airport yesterday; next to an ANC MEC (snappy suit - very nice watch and a very expensive cell phone) who was very busy organising the lawyer to finalise the contract and 'deal' on the phone; he rudely waves away two (black) waiters; finally finished with his (sic VERY IMPORTANT) phone call he addresses the waitress with:
"I was about to start protesting on the service delivery"
I sat there choking on my coffee - thinking as we sit here and you complain about service delivery there are three cities protesting and getting shot with rubber bullets ala-apartheid-days-stuff; and you are being witty.... I nearly SMASHED MY Muffin into his face... but thought better of being arrested for violent behavior
Rio - Cape Town - Tokyo
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TMG Sexwale Minister of Human Settlements, Pretoria, South Africa. A charismatic leader, he was imprisoned on Robben Island for his anti-apartheid activities, alongside figures such as Nelson Mandela. After the 1994 general election—the first universal franchise election in South Africa—Sexwale became the Premier of Gauteng Province. On 10 May 2009, South Africa's new President Jacob Zuma appointed the veteran Sexwale as Minister of Human Settlements.
I wonder if Tokyo will spend the night in a Brazilian shack just to see if it's anything like Diepsloot shacks... naaaa COMEON it's going to be a 5-STAR HOTEL!!!!
World Urban Forum 5: The Right to the City-Bridging the Urban Divide
I wonder if Tokyo will spend the night in a Brazilian shack just to see if it's anything like Diepsloot shacks... naaaa COMEON it's going to be a 5-STAR HOTEL!!!!
World Urban Forum 5: The Right to the City-Bridging the Urban Divide
In the space of a few short years, the World Urban Forum has turned into the world's premier conference on cities. The Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.
Since the first meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002, the Forum has grown in size and stature as it travelled to Barcelona in 2004, Vancouver 2006, and Nanjing in 2008.
With half of humanity already living in towns and cities, it is projected that in the next 50 years, two-thirds of us will be living in towns and cities. A major challenge is to minimize burgeoning poverty in cities, improve access of the urban poor to basic facilities such as shelter, clean water and sanitation and to achieve environmentally friendly, sustainable urban growth and development.
UN-HABITAT and the Government of Brazil have started preparations for the fifth session scheduled in Rio de Janeiro 22 - 26 March 2010. The Forum is one of the most open and inclusive gatherings of its kind on the international stage. It brings together government leaders, ministers, mayors, diplomats, members of national, regional and international associations of local governments, non-governmental and community organizations, professionals, academics, grassroots women's organizations, youth and slum dwellers groups as partners working for better cities. The fifth session in Rio builds on the lessons and successes of the previous four events.
"Brazil, like other countries in the world, became essentially urban during the twentieth century. Today, in Brazil, but also throughout the world, we need to rethink and renegotiate the fundamental bases of the city we want," said Marcos Caramuru de Paiva, the Brazilian Consul General in Shanghai. Speaking to delegates in Nanjing, he added: "Our home planet is only one, we change addresses but consume the same globalized products, we travel the same way, we use the same natural resources and we develop together."
Monday, March 22, 2010
'I lent Zuma my mansion out of charity'
Many people will find this preposterous, but Durban businessman Abdul Malek says he lent President Jacob Zuma his Morningside mansion as an act of "charity".This week the low-profile Malek, 74, who made his money selling cars and investing in commercial property, told The Tribune he let Zuma's wife, Nompumelelo MaNtuli, use his Innes Road, Durban, house rent-free for five years because he felt sorry for Zuma.
MaNtuli is still there and he says he isn't about to kick her out.
Malek recently went head to head with Zuma facilitator Erwin Ullbricht, who accused him of trying to evict MaNtuli.
Ullbricht says he and Zuma's son, Mxolisi Saady Zuma, signed the lease on the house at R12 000 a month, but there was an understanding that no money would change hands.
Malek, speaking from his modest office in Umgeni Road, said he never expected Erwin to pay the rent, because "he's got no money".
Malek is anxious to put to rest the story that he tried to evict MaNtuli and her two children.
"I tried to get hold of Zuma, but he was in Zimbabwe this week. It's not true that I tried to evict her. She phoned me in January to say she had found another place, in Umhlanga or La Lucia, so I sent Erwin a letter telling him to make sure everything was cleared out by March. But then her other place fell through.
"I won't kick her out now, I can't do that, she's been there five years."
Malek said he couldn't get hold of MaNtuli to put the record straight. He said he hadn't been able to raise her on the phone and attempts to visit her at the house proved futile, because there was a chain on the gate.
Malek said he lived in a house in Overport with his wife and daughter. It's not as fancy as the Innes Road house, or as big.
Asked to explain his generosity to the president's wife, he said: "This is charity. He's got no money, but he's a good man. Some ANC guys are very wealthy people. Take Tokyo (Sexwale) and (Cyril) Ramaphosa. They've done well.
"Things have gone well for me, so I give back. I help widows and orphans. I'm not a friend of rich people. They are only for themselves. God has been good to me. What you sow, you reap."
Malek said he has never given Zuma cash and claimed that he had derived no benefit from his association with the president.
"I have no business with him or any members of his family. Nothing."
Malek said he didn't want to do business with the government.
He had received "absolutely nothing... not even a box of chocolates", in return for letting MaNtuli use the house, even though market rental was more than R600 000 (R10 000 a month for five years with no rental escalation).Malek described the five-bedroom house as "lovely". He said he recently offered to sell it to Zuma, but the president declined.
He had come to Zuma's aid because he thought he was being unfairly treated by former president Thabo Mbeki. And the house he had bought as an investment was empty.
Malek said Ullbricht, who he didn't know at the time, introduced them. '
"You can't find a better man than Zuma," said Malek.
- Sunday Tribune
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Zuma: Service delivery must be faster
Basic service delivery must be quicker and faster, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.
"It is not good for people to live in shacks for over 20 years. Basic service delivery must be quicker, faster and smarter to improve the lives of our people," Zuma said at the Madelakufa settlement in Tembisa.
He was in Tembisa to report back to the community on progress made since his visit to the area in November. At the time, the community complained about houses, water and toilets.
Zuma said a lot had been done since then.
The Ekurhuleni municipality was developing an area where 450 houses would be built by the end of November.
"Government must respond when the people speak to give courage to those who are working to better the lives of our people and to deepen the hope for those waiting for houses and other services from the government," Zuma said. - Sapa
"It is not good for people to live in shacks for over 20 years. Basic service delivery must be quicker, faster and smarter to improve the lives of our people," Zuma said at the Madelakufa settlement in Tembisa.
He was in Tembisa to report back to the community on progress made since his visit to the area in November. At the time, the community complained about houses, water and toilets.
Zuma said a lot had been done since then.
The Ekurhuleni municipality was developing an area where 450 houses would be built by the end of November.
"Government must respond when the people speak to give courage to those who are working to better the lives of our people and to deepen the hope for those waiting for houses and other services from the government," Zuma said. - Sapa
Friday, March 19, 2010
Teen hangs herself 'after row at TB clinic'
Provincial health authorities say they are investigating allegations that a nursing sister in Mbekweni, Paarl, refused treatment to a teenager with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis because she had missed her clinic appointment by three days.
The family of 15-year-old Joy Skrish allege that the teenager committed suicide last week following a confrontation with the Polar Park Clinic nurse.
Joy was a Grade 9 pupil at Hlumelo Junior Secondary School.
According to the family, when the teenager arrived at the clinic on Monday last week, the nurse got so angry with her that she threw her sputum into the rubbish bin, then threatened to disclose the girl's MDR-TB status to her school.
Joy had been supposed to deliver the sputum the previous Friday.
The family said the nurse also refused to give the girl her daily tablets.
Jo-Anne Otto, spokeswoman for the Department of Health in the Winelands region, denied that Skrish was refused treatment. She confirmed that the 15-year-old was an MDR patient.
She said the nurse was still working at the clinic and had not been suspended.
"The department and its personnel would not refuse to provide health care, treatment or medication to any member of the public requiring it.
"The allegations against the nurse are seen in a very serious light, however. She has not been suspended, but the matter is being investigated," Otto said, offering the department's condolences to the family.
Mbekweni police spokesman Captain Flip Linnert said police were investigating a case of suicide.
Meanwhile, the alleged incident has drawn heavy criticism from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).
TAC Western Cape co-ordinator Fredaline Booysen described the incident as "unfortunate", especially given the fact that it was happening during TB Month, designed to highlight the plight of patients battling the disease.
"The healthworkers are suppose to work together with TB patients and be there for them. Yet you've got healthworkers who have such a bad attitude that they drive their patients into situations where they end up killing themselves. That is so sad and unacceptable," she said.
Lulama Skrish, Joy's mother, said her daughter was so upset with the treatment she received from the nurse that she returned home in tears, and vowed never to return to the clinic.
Then, three days later, Skrish said she got a call from the nurse asking where her daughter was, and why she was no longer collecting her treatment.
"I then asked her why she threw Joy's sputum in the bin and refused her treatment? She told me she did so because she felt like it, and that it was because Joy had brought her sputum very late.
"She then told me that she would go to Joy's school and blacklist her from going to the school again by disclosing to everyone that she was an MDR patient, and she must not be allowed to be with other pupils as she would give them TB. She also told me that she would book Joy in a TB hospital very far away from us where we couldn't have access to her," she said.
Skrish then convinced her daughter to return to the clinic with a new sputum sample. But, again the girl returned home in tears.
"The only thing she told me this time was that she would rather not go back to school ever again than be treated badly by that nurse.
"She then went into one of the bedrooms and slammed the door behind her."
Her mother went to check on her later, only to find Joy dead. She had hanged herself with a rope in the bathroom.
The family of 15-year-old Joy Skrish allege that the teenager committed suicide last week following a confrontation with the Polar Park Clinic nurse.
Joy was a Grade 9 pupil at Hlumelo Junior Secondary School.
According to the family, when the teenager arrived at the clinic on Monday last week, the nurse got so angry with her that she threw her sputum into the rubbish bin, then threatened to disclose the girl's MDR-TB status to her school.
Joy had been supposed to deliver the sputum the previous Friday.
The family said the nurse also refused to give the girl her daily tablets.
Jo-Anne Otto, spokeswoman for the Department of Health in the Winelands region, denied that Skrish was refused treatment. She confirmed that the 15-year-old was an MDR patient.
She said the nurse was still working at the clinic and had not been suspended.
"The department and its personnel would not refuse to provide health care, treatment or medication to any member of the public requiring it.
"The allegations against the nurse are seen in a very serious light, however. She has not been suspended, but the matter is being investigated," Otto said, offering the department's condolences to the family.
Mbekweni police spokesman Captain Flip Linnert said police were investigating a case of suicide.
Meanwhile, the alleged incident has drawn heavy criticism from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).
TAC Western Cape co-ordinator Fredaline Booysen described the incident as "unfortunate", especially given the fact that it was happening during TB Month, designed to highlight the plight of patients battling the disease.
"The healthworkers are suppose to work together with TB patients and be there for them. Yet you've got healthworkers who have such a bad attitude that they drive their patients into situations where they end up killing themselves. That is so sad and unacceptable," she said.
Lulama Skrish, Joy's mother, said her daughter was so upset with the treatment she received from the nurse that she returned home in tears, and vowed never to return to the clinic.
Then, three days later, Skrish said she got a call from the nurse asking where her daughter was, and why she was no longer collecting her treatment.
"I then asked her why she threw Joy's sputum in the bin and refused her treatment? She told me she did so because she felt like it, and that it was because Joy had brought her sputum very late.
"She then told me that she would go to Joy's school and blacklist her from going to the school again by disclosing to everyone that she was an MDR patient, and she must not be allowed to be with other pupils as she would give them TB. She also told me that she would book Joy in a TB hospital very far away from us where we couldn't have access to her," she said.
Skrish then convinced her daughter to return to the clinic with a new sputum sample. But, again the girl returned home in tears.
"The only thing she told me this time was that she would rather not go back to school ever again than be treated badly by that nurse.
"She then went into one of the bedrooms and slammed the door behind her."
Her mother went to check on her later, only to find Joy dead. She had hanged herself with a rope in the bathroom.
- Cape Argus
No answer on MP's R4000-a-night hotel stay
There is still no official explanation why Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda continues to spend time in one of Cape Town's most luxurious hotels at public expense, even though his official residence is ready for him.Nyanda has apparently not spent a single night in his plush residence in upper Claremont since he was appointed minister last May.
His stay at The Twelve Apostles and Mount Nelson hotels is costing the public purse a minimum of R4 000 a night.
The Mail & Guardian reported last Friday that Nyanda stays in the hotels an average of four nights when he visits Cape Town to attend Parliament.
If he attended all National Assembly and special sittings since taking office, he would have spent 88 nights in Cape hotels, the report said.
According to the report, Nyanda ran up a bill of R33 330 between February 6 and 12 for accommodation, food, mini-bar and laundry services at the Twelve Apostles.
From February 14 to 19, the hotel billed Nyanda R21 417 for four nights' accommodation and food.
Several days after the report appeared, a Cape Times reporter spotted Nyanda leaving the Mount Nelson and asked his office and the Public Works Department for an explanation.
Said department spokesman Lucky Mochalibane: "A house was made available to (Nyanda) and it has been ready."
Mochalibane referred questions about why Nyanda has not moved into his official house to the Communications Department.
He and a second Public Works spokesman, Thamsanqa Mchunu, failed to answer further questions related to the readiness of Nyanda's house.
A string of phone calls were made and e-mails sent, but the two did not respond, despite promises by Mochalibane to answer questions on Thursday.
But Public Works was contradicted by Nyanda's spokesman, Tiyani Rikhotso.
He told the Cape Times Nyanda had been living in hotels because his ministerial mansion was not ready for him to move into.
"The Minister of Communications has been staying in hotels only because the house allocated to him by the Department of Public Works was not ready for occupation."
Ignoring questions including how long Nyanda has been staying in hotels and how much the taxpayer was forking out to foot his hotel bills, Rikhotso said there was a distinction between a house being allocated and it being ready for immediate use.
"The minister will only move into the house once it is ready for occupation," said Rikhotso.
Meanwhile, DA MP Lindiwe Mazibuko has submitted parliamentary questions to determine how much Nyanda's stay at the two hotels was costing the taxpayer.
"The South African public cannot be expected to continue footing the bill for the ANC government's taste for big spending - particularly while millions of our people continue to live in abject poverty," said Mazibuko in a statement.
Last year, Nyanda was criticised for buying two luxury German cars at taxpayers' expense, each worth well over R1 million.
Last month, the Congress of the People asked the Public Protector to investigate contracts signed between government departments and private sector risk advisory company General Siphiwe Nyanda Security.
- Cape Times
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
'How can I be illegal in my own country?'
"The Housing Department says I am illegal. How can I be illegal in my own country?"
These were the words of an irate pig farmer Craig Jonkers after the department threatened to evict all 300 farmers it said illegally occupy city council land in Eerste Rivier.
Jonkers, 49, has been farming pigs and chickens on the land for 10 years.
"We are indigenous people of South Africa. They are doing the same thing that was done during apartheid years," fumed Jonkers. He said the first man to farm on the land had arrived 25 years ago.
Housing department spokesperson Zalisile Mbali said on Tuesday the farmers illegally occupied the land. Mbali said the land was about 70 hectares and the department planned to use 10 hectares of it for a flood relief project. "The land is earmarked for human settlement as it is located within the urban edge of the City of Cape Town," he said. However, it was zoned as agricultural land, Mbali said.
He added: "The department does not have an evacuation plan for the farmers."
He said discussions were held with the Agriculture Department to accommodate the farmers but without agreement being reached.
In the meantime, the farmers have vowed not take the department's threats lying down.
On Tuesday they told the Cape Times they would round up their pigs and goats and march with them to the Housing Department offices today.
In an earlier statement, Ithemba Farmers Association said the government had not properly consulted the farmers and had not complied with basic requirements to set up a township on the land.
Mbali said eviction notices had been served and advertised in newspapers.
The farmers accused the government of using apartheid land policies to force them out.
"The land is currently zoned as agricultural land which is a precious commodity in the Western Cape, but the city has failed to appreciate its value and has even refused to follow the proper procedures to rezone the land for housing," the statement read.
They argued the land was not suitable for housing.
Jonkers said 85 percent of the farmers had no other jobs and the farms were their livelihoods.
Xakekile Mzola, 53, said he has been living off his chickens and geese since he was retrenched. "If they force me out I will be like someone who has lost his job. What will happen to the person I employ as my assistant, how will he feed his family?"
His neighbours Jan and Marina Witbooi said they used their farm to help feed sick squatters nearby. They sold vegetables to a créche in an adjacent township at cheap prices.
"I'm heartbroken. This is an investment for my children," said a 33-year-old pig farmer.
These were the words of an irate pig farmer Craig Jonkers after the department threatened to evict all 300 farmers it said illegally occupy city council land in Eerste Rivier.
Jonkers, 49, has been farming pigs and chickens on the land for 10 years.
"We are indigenous people of South Africa. They are doing the same thing that was done during apartheid years," fumed Jonkers. He said the first man to farm on the land had arrived 25 years ago.
Housing department spokesperson Zalisile Mbali said on Tuesday the farmers illegally occupied the land. Mbali said the land was about 70 hectares and the department planned to use 10 hectares of it for a flood relief project. "The land is earmarked for human settlement as it is located within the urban edge of the City of Cape Town," he said. However, it was zoned as agricultural land, Mbali said.
He added: "The department does not have an evacuation plan for the farmers."
He said discussions were held with the Agriculture Department to accommodate the farmers but without agreement being reached.
In the meantime, the farmers have vowed not take the department's threats lying down.
On Tuesday they told the Cape Times they would round up their pigs and goats and march with them to the Housing Department offices today.
In an earlier statement, Ithemba Farmers Association said the government had not properly consulted the farmers and had not complied with basic requirements to set up a township on the land.
Mbali said eviction notices had been served and advertised in newspapers.
The farmers accused the government of using apartheid land policies to force them out.
"The land is currently zoned as agricultural land which is a precious commodity in the Western Cape, but the city has failed to appreciate its value and has even refused to follow the proper procedures to rezone the land for housing," the statement read.
They argued the land was not suitable for housing.
Jonkers said 85 percent of the farmers had no other jobs and the farms were their livelihoods.
Xakekile Mzola, 53, said he has been living off his chickens and geese since he was retrenched. "If they force me out I will be like someone who has lost his job. What will happen to the person I employ as my assistant, how will he feed his family?"
His neighbours Jan and Marina Witbooi said they used their farm to help feed sick squatters nearby. They sold vegetables to a créche in an adjacent township at cheap prices.
"I'm heartbroken. This is an investment for my children," said a 33-year-old pig farmer.
- Cape Times
Silence for victim of Group Areas Act
The Land Claims Court in Cape Town observed a moment of silence on Wednesday to honour a victim of the Group Areas Act.
It marked what would have been the 109th birthday of Magdalene Edith Florence, nicknamed Girly, who died in 1971, only months after being forced out of her Black River, Rondebosch, home.
She was matriarch of the Florence family, who are contesting the Land Claims Commission's offer of R40,000 compensation for the loss of the five-bedroomed dwelling and plot with orchard.
The family is asking for R3.3 million.
The Florences were classified coloured, and the Black River was declared a white group area in 1966.
The court has been hearing evidence from a University of Cape Town economist, Prof Martin Wittenberg, on how the value of compensation should be calculated.
- Sapa
Roadside is home after eviction
About 50 people have set up home on a Green Point pavement after being evicted from a building behind Somerset Hospital.
The group sat surrounded by their belongings on a pavement in Portswood Road last night, preparing for their fourth night on the streets since being evicted in the early hours of Friday.
The group had been living in the Old City Hospital's G block until a sheriff of the court, accompanied by police, arrived and told them they had to vacate the premises immediately.
They claim the eviction came without warning.
But ward councillor JP Smith said the sheriff had a court order and was within his rights to evict them after many eviction threats sent to the evictees had gone ignored.
Fiona Alcock, a member of the evicted group, admitted that they had known they faced eviction but had expected it to happen on December 18.
She said the group had made other arrangements and had had all their belongings packed but no one had arrived to evict them on that day. Then on Friday, police came without warning and now they had nowhere to go.
Alcock, who has breast cancer and had been living at a night shelter before she heard about G block, said they should have been given more warning.
"It's very embarrassing being here on the side of the street," she said.
According to the group, they had stayed in the building free after their previous landlord's lease expired. More people came when word spread that people were living in the building for free, they said.
Most do not work and have no family to turn to.
"This is so embarrassing and demeaning. In all my 54 years I have never slept in the open," said Wendy Mani.
The group said that since being evicted on Friday, businesses near where they were living had complained. They said they were also being refused ablution facilities in the nearby V&A waterfront and at the neighbouring Protea Hotel and had resorted to using a deserted corner as a toilet.
"We have no choice... we know it's a health hazard," said Terrence Wandi.
Smith said he was aware of the group's situation and added that he had not been able to find a place for them to stay.
He said city housing, premier Helen Zille and mayor Dan Plato were aware of the situation and were trying to find a solution.
"But we must be careful that we don't set a precedent where we're taking responsibility for people who should've known (to find alternative accommodation)." The group did not qualify for emergency housing.
The group sat surrounded by their belongings on a pavement in Portswood Road last night, preparing for their fourth night on the streets since being evicted in the early hours of Friday.
The group had been living in the Old City Hospital's G block until a sheriff of the court, accompanied by police, arrived and told them they had to vacate the premises immediately.
They claim the eviction came without warning.
But ward councillor JP Smith said the sheriff had a court order and was within his rights to evict them after many eviction threats sent to the evictees had gone ignored.
Fiona Alcock, a member of the evicted group, admitted that they had known they faced eviction but had expected it to happen on December 18.
She said the group had made other arrangements and had had all their belongings packed but no one had arrived to evict them on that day. Then on Friday, police came without warning and now they had nowhere to go.
Alcock, who has breast cancer and had been living at a night shelter before she heard about G block, said they should have been given more warning.
"It's very embarrassing being here on the side of the street," she said.
According to the group, they had stayed in the building free after their previous landlord's lease expired. More people came when word spread that people were living in the building for free, they said.
Most do not work and have no family to turn to.
"This is so embarrassing and demeaning. In all my 54 years I have never slept in the open," said Wendy Mani.
The group said that since being evicted on Friday, businesses near where they were living had complained. They said they were also being refused ablution facilities in the nearby V&A waterfront and at the neighbouring Protea Hotel and had resorted to using a deserted corner as a toilet.
"We have no choice... we know it's a health hazard," said Terrence Wandi.
Smith said he was aware of the group's situation and added that he had not been able to find a place for them to stay.
He said city housing, premier Helen Zille and mayor Dan Plato were aware of the situation and were trying to find a solution.
"But we must be careful that we don't set a precedent where we're taking responsibility for people who should've known (to find alternative accommodation)." The group did not qualify for emergency housing.
- Cape Argus
Sometimes we get it wrong, says Zille
Premier and DA leader Helen Zille has changed tack and apologised for the unenclosed toilets debacle, just three days before the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) stages a protest against township sanitation standards.
"It is an episode we greatly regret, and from which we have learnt," Zille told a joint sitting of Parliament yesterday to mark Human Rights Day on Sunday.
But while Zille has apologised, Cape Town mayor Dan Plato, who recently stood unsuccessfully for election as DA Western Cape leader, was not prepared to do so last night.
Plato initially declined to comment, saying he had not seen Zille's statement.
Moments later, he said: "If province wants to make an apology it doesn't mean we have to do likewise."
Plato said he would view the premier's statement today.
He was unable to comment on whether the toilets would be upgraded to include walls.
The issue of unenclosed toilets in Khayelitsha drew media attention in January, when the ANC Youth League asked the SA Human Rights Commission to probe alleged human rights violations by the City of Cape Town.
The commission has still to disclose its findings.
Residents in the Makhaza section of Khayelitsha were provided toilets by the City of Cape Town on condition they built their own enclosures.
When the Cape Times visited the area, several people said they had not been able to afford constructing the walls and roofs and for months they had made use of the toilets in full view of their neighbours.
Plato initially tried to justify the decision to build unenclosed toilets, saying residents in Town 2 and Makhaza residents had agreed on a toilet per erf while the community would build their own enclosures.
This deviated from national guidelines for upgrading unserviced informal settlements of one concrete enclosed toilet for five plots.
The city and Plato had stood by their defence of the toilets, and reiterated several times in the media that community members had agreed to the building of unenclosed toilets.
At Parliament, Zille said: "We now know that an agreement, even when it is negotiated with a community for the purpose of maximising service delivery and stretching the budget; and even if it works for 95 percent of families who agree to build their own enclosures so that they can get a toilet each rather than one toilet for every five families; even then, it may not work for everyone."
She said the plan had ended with the human dignity of the other five percent insulted.
"We have now reverted back to the national guidelines for upgrading unserviced informal settlements, which provides for one toilet for every five families, rather than one toilet per family which they agree to enclose themselves.
"We cannot risk the unintended consequence whereby people face the indignity of relieving themselves in public.
"Often we get it right. Sometimes we get it wrong. And when we do, we must reflect on our actions and correct our course."
Meanwhile, the SJC is to draw attention to sanitation standards in townships on Saturday by hosting a queue outside a public toilet in Sea Point from 10am.
"It is an episode we greatly regret, and from which we have learnt," Zille told a joint sitting of Parliament yesterday to mark Human Rights Day on Sunday.
But while Zille has apologised, Cape Town mayor Dan Plato, who recently stood unsuccessfully for election as DA Western Cape leader, was not prepared to do so last night.
Plato initially declined to comment, saying he had not seen Zille's statement.
Moments later, he said: "If province wants to make an apology it doesn't mean we have to do likewise."
Plato said he would view the premier's statement today.
He was unable to comment on whether the toilets would be upgraded to include walls.
The issue of unenclosed toilets in Khayelitsha drew media attention in January, when the ANC Youth League asked the SA Human Rights Commission to probe alleged human rights violations by the City of Cape Town.
The commission has still to disclose its findings.
Residents in the Makhaza section of Khayelitsha were provided toilets by the City of Cape Town on condition they built their own enclosures.
When the Cape Times visited the area, several people said they had not been able to afford constructing the walls and roofs and for months they had made use of the toilets in full view of their neighbours.
Plato initially tried to justify the decision to build unenclosed toilets, saying residents in Town 2 and Makhaza residents had agreed on a toilet per erf while the community would build their own enclosures.
This deviated from national guidelines for upgrading unserviced informal settlements of one concrete enclosed toilet for five plots.
The city and Plato had stood by their defence of the toilets, and reiterated several times in the media that community members had agreed to the building of unenclosed toilets.
At Parliament, Zille said: "We now know that an agreement, even when it is negotiated with a community for the purpose of maximising service delivery and stretching the budget; and even if it works for 95 percent of families who agree to build their own enclosures so that they can get a toilet each rather than one toilet for every five families; even then, it may not work for everyone."
She said the plan had ended with the human dignity of the other five percent insulted.
"We have now reverted back to the national guidelines for upgrading unserviced informal settlements, which provides for one toilet for every five families, rather than one toilet per family which they agree to enclose themselves.
"We cannot risk the unintended consequence whereby people face the indignity of relieving themselves in public.
"Often we get it right. Sometimes we get it wrong. And when we do, we must reflect on our actions and correct our course."
Meanwhile, the SJC is to draw attention to sanitation standards in townships on Saturday by hosting a queue outside a public toilet in Sea Point from 10am.
- Cape Times
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Shack fire claims three lives
Three people were burnt to death in a shack fire in Bishop Lavis, Western Cape police said on Sunday.
A passerby saw the flames and smoke from the back shack and notified adults who were in the main house at 6pm on Saturday, said Captain Marie Louw.
A 16-year-old and three-year-old were in the back shack.
"The adults tried to put the fire out, while 49-year-old Sharon Khoen, who is the three-year-old's mother, went inside the shack to save the children. Instead she was also burnt to death," said Louw.
The 16-year-old had been visiting the family.
After fire fighters extinguished the fire, they found the three bodies inside the shack.
The cause of the fire was unknown. - Sapa
A passerby saw the flames and smoke from the back shack and notified adults who were in the main house at 6pm on Saturday, said Captain Marie Louw.
A 16-year-old and three-year-old were in the back shack.
"The adults tried to put the fire out, while 49-year-old Sharon Khoen, who is the three-year-old's mother, went inside the shack to save the children. Instead she was also burnt to death," said Louw.
The 16-year-old had been visiting the family.
After fire fighters extinguished the fire, they found the three bodies inside the shack.
The cause of the fire was unknown. - Sapa
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Church warden spends weekend in a shack
A CHURCH warden is living in a shack this weekend to raise awareness of housing conditions in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Ian Brown, who volunteers for charity Habitat for Humanity, set up home in the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, in Church Lane, Burford, yesterday and will stay in the makeshift home until Monday.
The shack, which is made out of wood and corrugated metal sheets, is based on the homes of thousands of people living outside Cape Town, in South Africa.
Mr Brown, who will sleep on the dirt floor, has a fire to keep warm by and to cook his meals on.
The 60-year-old, of Burford, said: “I’m not collecting money, I’m just raising awareness of the way people live.
“This September will be the fourth time I have helped to build new homes in Mfuleni, just outside of Cape Town.
“The only way people there can earn money is to get near to Cape Town and then they have to live in a shack.”
Habitat for Humanity, based in Banbury, provides volunteers and raises money to build homes for some of the world’s poorest people.
A couple of volunteers take just five days to build one two-bedroom house, which costs about £10,000.
Mr Brown, a town councillor, said: “It’s such a wonderful cause.
“I am going to freeze but I am going to be brave. Some people have said I am a little bit crazy, but it will be a good experience.
“Most of the people living in shacks have kids and because it is not water-tight, they just cannot keep anything like clothes dry.
“If you don’t have a home then you can’t easily provide for your kids.
“As soon as they have a home they feel so secure. It’s hard for us to imagine – most of us in the West have homes and we take it for granted.”
Habitat for Humanity is an international development agency which works in more than 90 countries around the world.
Ian Brown, who volunteers for charity Habitat for Humanity, set up home in the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, in Church Lane, Burford, yesterday and will stay in the makeshift home until Monday.
The shack, which is made out of wood and corrugated metal sheets, is based on the homes of thousands of people living outside Cape Town, in South Africa.
Mr Brown, who will sleep on the dirt floor, has a fire to keep warm by and to cook his meals on.
The 60-year-old, of Burford, said: “I’m not collecting money, I’m just raising awareness of the way people live.
“This September will be the fourth time I have helped to build new homes in Mfuleni, just outside of Cape Town.
“The only way people there can earn money is to get near to Cape Town and then they have to live in a shack.”
Habitat for Humanity, based in Banbury, provides volunteers and raises money to build homes for some of the world’s poorest people.
A couple of volunteers take just five days to build one two-bedroom house, which costs about £10,000.
Mr Brown, a town councillor, said: “It’s such a wonderful cause.
“I am going to freeze but I am going to be brave. Some people have said I am a little bit crazy, but it will be a good experience.
“Most of the people living in shacks have kids and because it is not water-tight, they just cannot keep anything like clothes dry.
“If you don’t have a home then you can’t easily provide for your kids.
“As soon as they have a home they feel so secure. It’s hard for us to imagine – most of us in the West have homes and we take it for granted.”
Habitat for Humanity is an international development agency which works in more than 90 countries around the world.
- Oxford Mail
Friday, March 12, 2010
‘Act on protests to avoid 2010 embarrassment’
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THE Government must deal with service delivery problems to avert protests and embarrassment during the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Joe Mavuso, facilitator of community and citizen empowerment at the Institute for Democracy in Africa, said protests during the tournament would tarnish the country’s image. “It would be an embarrassment for our country,” Mavuso said. “The tournament brings with it an opportunity for the country to sell itself to the world. “The government must engage these communities and make a commitment that their demands will be met even after the World Cup.” For the last six months violent service delivery protests have rocked the country, with communities threatening to disrupt the World Cup. There have been protests in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Gauteng recently. The Ministry of Police says it is ready to maintain order in the country, before and during the World Cup. “People have a right to voice their frustrations but that must be done within the framework of the law,” spokesperson Zweli Mnisi said. Hosni Mosesi, a community leader in Sharpeville, said there was no stopping them. “We have had a meeting with the premier of Gauteng, but nothing fruitful came of it. Nothing is being done to improve our lives but a lot is being done to impress the world,” Mosesi said. Bongani Ntuli, a community leader at the Mayfield informal settlement in Daveyton, joined the chorus. “Nothing has changed in our community since 1994 and there has been no consultation,” Ntuli said. “It is not our plan to cause chaos but we want the government to hear our cry. “If the councillors don’t come to discuss our grievances before the World Cup we wont stop protesting.” In Atteridgeville the Gauteng Civic Association met with the SAPS and a delegation from the Department of Human Settlements to avert yesterday’s protests but it was fruitless. Themba Ncalo, general secretary of the organisation, said: “The department has had three weeks to come back with feedback. If we are not satisfied with their response, we will continue with the protest during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.” | ||||||||||
SDI Bulletin: Beyond a legal framework for “meaningful engagement” in South Africa
pictured above: FEDUP’s Alfred Gabuza (far right) speaks at a meeting of the Informal Settlement Network in Roodeplaat, South Africa, on 20 February 2010.
By Benjamin Bradlow, SDI secretariat
Adapted from remarks given at a roundtable discussion on “meaningful engagement” hosted by the University of Western Cape Community Law Centre and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute, on 4 March 2010.
“Meaningful engagement” is a term that has gained currency in South Africa over the last few years primarily through a series of Constitutional Court (the highest court in the country) cases regarding evictions of poor, informal dwellers. These decisions have compelled state actors to “meaningfully engage” in various ways with those they want to evict before pursuing the actual forced removal.
I want to make three related arguments about the limits of a legal framework for engagements between the state and poor citizens. The first is that “meaningful engagement” is a political process, and it is often a messy one at that. What is needed, then, is for governments to prepare to respond appropriately to the capacities of organized communities to engage. My second argument is that because it is such a political process, the inherently technocratic orientation of the law means that it has only a limited role to play in structuring these kind of engagements. Finally, I want to add to a discussion about how poor communities are preparing themselves for sustained, “meaningful engagements” with government.
Real “meaningful engagement” must be sustained engagement, not one-off encounters of the sort mandated by courts or those that constantly require the intervention of lawyers. S’bu Zikode of slum dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo was part of the workshop on “meaningful engagement” hosted by the Wits Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) on 27 July 2009. There, he argued that “meaningful engagement” is part of a greater struggle by ordinary poor people to reclaim their humanity in their relations with the state. According to the report from this workshop put out by CALS, Mr. Zikode suggested that sustained dialogue, negotiation and learning with government officials were key to developing the kinds of relationships necessary for people-centered development.
“Meaningful engagement” is not something that should happen only when the law commits the state to pursue to specific interventions along these lines in order to implement its own policies. From the side of civil society, a “rights-based” approach is only a small part of a much larger effort to empower communities of the urban poor to organize around their own resources and capacities, accumulate local knowledge, set priorities, and engage other stakeholders — often the state — in order to broker deals. These are the basic propositions of Slum Dwellers International affiliate federations in over thirty different countries. In South Africa, our allies are the Federation of the Urban Poor, known by its acronym as FEDUP, and the Informal Settlement Network, a nation-wide network of settlement-level and national-level slum dweller organizations, including Abahlali and FEDUP.
In large part, we tend to only talk about “meaningful engagement” between poor communities and state institutions when conflicts between citizens and the state are reaching their breaking point. Evictions are sometimes a useful starting point to begin such engagements, but for such an engagement to be “meaningful” it cannot end with the resolution of the eviction case in and of itself. Though there have been important victories against evictions, state institutions and private actors continue to seek many more evictions than the number being won in the courts. More widely speaking, more people live without access to water, sanitation, or energy. This country is bound by a constitution widely lauded for its guarantee of rights to basic services. But too many people persist without these services. A legal framework alone is inadequate to address structural inequality and poverty.
Abahlali was responsible for a Constitutional Court victory against the proposed KwaZulu-Natal slums act, which, had it not been struck down, would have paved an even easier path for the state to pursue evictions of informal dwellers than it currently has. This was an important, but, in a sense, limited win. Simply put, evictions are still occurring.
The law can sometimes tell the state not to evict. It can even force the state to consult with the poor. But it just can’t construct a process that is, by nature, an organic, political one. In some eviction court cases, like Olivia Road v. City of Johannesburg, the city is ordered to “meaningfully engage.” In the Olivia Road case, part of the application of the term meant that the city was to conduct a survey of residents of the Olivia Road building, a responsibility it ultimately tendered to an outside professional consultancy. This was anything but “meaningful engagement” with the unique and pre-existing knowledge resources of poor communities.
Organized communities of the urban poor have implements of their own that effect positive outcomes in ways that build “meaningful,” sustainable engagement with the state and other actors who bring eviction orders. When communities organize around their own resources and capacities, chief among these is information. It is on this point that the intention of court-ordered engagement between the state and ordinary poor citizens can get lost.
In other cases of action in the face of eviction threats, communities have organized around their own knowledge capacity to first face down the threat, and then to create the space for dialogue with government that ultimately leads to development in situ or a truly negotiated relocation. The case of the Joe Slovo community here in Cape Town is a great example. Though the legal battle last year eventually staved off imminent eviction, the possibility for sustained, “meaningful” engagement with the state has only come about through these kinds of organizing measures. Just last month, the community finished up a process of issuing itself informal household ID cards. This was the latest step in an enumeration process, in which the community surveyed every household on a wide range of social indicators. This process of information gathering has assisted significantly in organizing the community to be strong advocates for its own priorities as it negotiates with the Cape Town metropolitan municipal government on how to upgrade the settlement in situ. Even despite many of the obstacles that remain, victories in court appear almost pyrrhic when compared to the developmental achievements of an organized community armed with its own information and priorities prepared to engage with the state. This is an experience we have seen throughout our SDI network.
“Meaningful engagement,” if we take it to be a term that can help describe a greater sense of civic purpose in the ways in which citizens interact with the state, points to a bottom-up approach that is not limited to the Constitution or any other legal framework. Secondly, while a court can enforce specific obligations and rights, a democracy is the sum of much more than just these compulsions. Finally, the state can meaningfully engage by pursuing policies and interactions that facilitate the kinds of community organization that reinforce and grow the capacities of ordinary poor citizens. Organized communities of the urban poor can use their tools of association to work with the state towards their own development. 
- SDI
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