New measures to speed up delivery of human settlements

MEC introduces new measures to speed up delivery of human settlements

1 Nov 2010

MEC Nombulelo Mabandla has introduced radical new measures in the department to speed up delivery of human settlements which had slowed down construction of new homes during the soccer world cup and the public service strike. The new measures are aimed at meeting the target of 22 000 units by the end of March next year when the current financial year ends on 31 March 2011.

The MEC has instructed all housing contractors working on human settlements projects to work overtime and during December holidays to ensure that all beneficiaries get the homes they were promised by the department at the beginning of the year. She has also set a target of three thousand seven hundred units to be completed every month until the end of the financial year to as part of the recovery plan to meet the targets. 

In our half year report, the department recorded a low 3395 homes, 15 381 at various stages (70%) of construction, 420 stands have been transferred under the Enhanced Extended Discount Benefit Scheme (EEDBS). It had spent from 1 April 2010 to 30 September 2010 is R796 411 million.

With the target rate of three thousand units per month, the target of 22 000 units would be achieved by the end of the financial year.

The MEC said the department would look into appointing suppliers for building material which would only cater for human settlement contractors. This arrangement was done after contractors met with the MEC and expressed their challenges. One of the challange identified was the shortage of supply for building materials and limitations imposed by supplier to contractors. An appointment of building material supplier by the department would ensure unlimited, uninterrupted supply of building material to all human settlements contractors in the province.

These interventions will ensure that the delivery targets of human settlements are met this current financial year

Contact:
Lwandile Sicwetsha (Spokesperson)
Cell: 071 671 1770

Issued by: Eastern Cape Housing
1 Nov 2010