a) I am informed by the Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlemnents that in the previous financial year, it met with all Municipalities requesting the list of areas with unsafe and unihabitable mud houses. The Department received a list with 501 mud houses in 20 wards from Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in April 2023. Ten (10) houses were received in Vezubuhle in Wards 18 and 20. According to the province, the list was only received in the current financial year, resulting in these projects not being planned and budgeted for 2023-2024. The Department shall prioritize the eradication of mud houses within the next Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF).
b) The Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements is currently busy with the formalization of informal settlements in the area which will result in the provision of bulk infrastrucrture and basic services.