Free State to spend R1.3 billion on housing

Free State to spend R1.3 billion on housing

25 March 2010

The Free State government has allocated R1.3 billion for the construction of housing units towards addressing the 200 000 housing backlog.

Speaking during the provincial Human Settlements budget vote speech, MEC
Msebenzi Zwane said the funds will also be used for the installation of municipal services, development of social amenities and acquire land.

“Creating sustainable human settlements remains our main focus in the 2010/11 financial year. As a commitment to the achievement of the millennium development goals, our aim is to provide 10 000 units towards reducing the backlog of people living in informal settlements,” he said.

In line with government’s commitment to provide decent accommodation closer to places of work, he said his department will in partnership with the private sector and the Housing Development Agency explore different ways and means to provide mixed housing options.

“We were able to pilot and display better and different typologies such as designs and plans of houses in various towns. Our aim is to move away from the drab of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) uniformity,” he added.

Improvement in this area of work, he said included exploring alternative building methods, using mass based approach in construction, to create jobs and develop skills.

He said the department had also explored the use of alternative building materials in housing delivery, in selected towns. These options, he added will include rental units closer to places of employment in Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, Sasolburg and Welkom as pilot projects.

In partnership with the Department of Land Affairs, the department had acquired ten land parcels in various localities as identified by different local municipalities, for future establishment of human settlements.

“Through our programme of planning and surveying we had initially planned to develop 8 000 sites, but have achieved more than 12 000 sites” he said.

A further hundred million has been allocated for the process of building decent homes for Military Veterans and restitution beneficiaries.

The MEC further announced that the rectification of pre-1994 housing stock will continue, adding that the department will enforce quality in housing construction to prevent contractors building low quality houses.

“We will enforce quality in housing construction, in installation of municipal services, provision of social amenities, acquisition of land and creation of sites.

“We will promote innovation and alternative ways of construction that will promote energy saving. An amount of R135 million is provided to continue with our rectification of pre-1994 housing stock. This amount is meant to rebuild two roomed houses and to rectify houses with defects,” he said.

Issued by: Department of Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Free State Provincial Government

25 March 2010