Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, the ANC- led government has a political and historical duty to improve the living conditions of our people. African people have gone through various periods of dehumanisation, from slavery to colonialism and neo-colonialism. The restoration of the African people's dignity is of paramount importance. We cannot run away from the fact that apartheid settled people in racial, class and ethnic compartments.

The ANC-led government has made much progress in the past 19 years in the provision of housing, water and electricity to millions of homes, amongst others. [Applause.] Our economy has grown and we have deepened our democracy. The international community has shown its confidence in the new South Africa. There is still much to be done in creating a better life for all South Africans. We have to ensure that we grow the economy in order to meet the needs of all our people.

In the past two financial years, that is, from 2011 until end March 2013, approximately 15 300 People's Housing Process, PHP, units were delivered in five provinces, namely in the North West, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng. The PHP is a critical programme that encourages people to be at the centre of their own development. The scale of poverty, inequality and unemployment requires a more multifaceted approach that empowers people to lift themselves out from the trappings of these challenges. [Applause.]

Community participation is generally understood as a process in which the citizenry are directly involved in the planning, governance and the overall development programmes at local level. In the context of housing projects, community participation is a notion where members of the community and the beneficiaries are in control of the whole process from planning the house designs and public space. They must be involved in all housing development processes.

Siyazi-ke ukuthi abantu bakithi bayakwazi ukuzakhela nokuzenzela. Siyakhumbula ukuthi kudala bebezakhela izindlu ngezandla zabo, besebenzisa amatshe. Namanje lezo zindlu zisekhona sisazibona. Abantu badinga usizo ngezinsiza zokwakha ngoba abanye bathanda ukuzenzela orawondi kuthi abanye bazenzele amafulati, njalo njalo.

Ukuzenzela kwenza abantu baziqhenye ngobunikazi bezindlu, bazigcine zizinhle futhi zithandeka. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)

[We know that our people are able to build and to do things for themselves. We do remember that in the olden days they used to build houses with their bare hands, using stones. Even now, those houses are still there and we see them. People must be assisted with building material because some like to build rondavels and others like to build flats, etc.

Doing things for themselves makes people proud owners of these houses - they keep them beautiful and loveable.][Applause.]]

Public participation gives ordinary people a meaningful opportunity to exercise their voice in processes that shape the outcome of development that has a direct bearing on their lives. Participation is necessary because it also deepens the process of democracy and enables the government to be more effective.

We should encourage the support of housing co-operatives. The 53rd ANC National Conference resolution states that as the ANC we will continue making use of co-operatives so as to create the much needed employment in communities and also ensure ownership. [Applause.] We should commend some of the successful housing co-operatives such as Amalinda Housing project amongst many others across the country.

The Amalinda Housing project is located in the Eastern Cape and is situated about eight kilometres outside the centre of East London on the east coast of South Africa. The Amalinda co-operative settlement project involves 216 detached housing units in East London. The National Development Plan, NDP, encourages active citizenry where people are involved in the provision of their own houses. This practice will instil a sense of pride in our people.

Kumanje siyazi ukuthi sibhekene nenkinga yokuthi abantu bakithi bathengisa lezi zindlu zomxhaso ngemali encane. Abaye bayaziqashisa kuthi abanye baziphendule ama-spaza shop. Sonke siyakwazi lokho. Uma nje benganikwa ithuba bazakhele bona ngokwabo, isibalo sokudayiswa kwezindlu zomxhaso singancipha ngoba bazozizwa bengabanikazi bezindlu. (Translations of isiZulu paragraph follows.)

[We are aware that we are faced with a problem and that is that our people are selling these RDP houses at reduced prices. Some people rent them out and others turn them into spaza shops. We all know that. If they can just be given an opportunity to build the houses on their own, then the rate at which these RDP houses are being sold can be reduced, because they will feel like owners.]

In building integrated human settlements it is necessary to also build a responsive citizenry. The building of homes must contribute to the building of communities. This is why the ANC government continues to promote and support the People's Housing Process, because of benefits attained like the development of skills, building of cohesive communities who take charge of their development and the creation of jobs.

According to the information provided by the SA Housing Co-operatives Association, SAHCA, a membership organisation of co-operatives has housed 8 900 families in urban housing and 1 100 in rural housing. This includes varying house typologies.

The ANC government has noted that these institutions serve a variety of target markets and operate in a variety of delivery areas and options, which require a broader response. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]