Madam Speaker,  

The aim of the dept is to determine, finance, promote, coordinate, communicate and monitor the implementation of policy for housing and human settlement.  

The IFP is mindful of the huge housing backlog that was inherited from the past regime. The migration of people into urban areas poses a big threat

 One of the legacies of Apartheid legal planning was the creation of inhumane single sex hostels. The IFP is pleased that for the first time in 14 years the department, in accordance with its aims, has developed the policy and provided funding for the conversion of hostels into habitable family units which will go a long way in restoring dignity to South Africans who were forced by the Apartheid regime to stay in hostels. It will also contribute to completing the process of reconciliation that was started by the founding fathers of our democracy and unite our communities. The only remaining thing is to ensure that the residential stands must be allocated to qualifying beneficiaries. 

In implementing this new policy of hostel development, the IFP is calling upon the department to desist from Apartheid mentality of implementing it without the input of hostel residents. We urge the department (the Minister) in particular to ensure that hostel residents and the surrounding communities are involved in the implementation, in order to achieve the integration of these communities. The IFP would like to applaud the MEC of Housing in Gauteng for her vision in this regard.  

Furthermore, we also acknowledge the rural housing loan fund which is aimed at helping the disadvantaged at improving their living conditions and also have access to credit from sustainable retail lenders.   Also to improve that incremental housing which is a viable alternative as far as is affordability is concerned.  

We hope that the increased budget will be able to accelerate the development of sustainable human settlement with intensified efforts as a matter of urgent priority as requested by the President in his State of the Nation address in February 2008.  

The new housing development which will integrate lower-income earners into suburbs from which they might formerly have been excluded is welcomed and I hope that budget will be able to cover. This new plan will also assist to integrate and make the demographic profile of residential areas to be more representative in all sectors of the wider community. 

The IFP support the budget vote.  

I thank you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Mr BW Dhlamini MP on 083 254 8576