Chairperson, the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements said that George does not have a housing plan; but that is why we probably won the national award for excellent performance for housing. TYou must do your homework, Deputy Minister.

Chairperson, the fourth Parliament is nearing the end of a five-year period that has been marked with both success and failures within the national and provincial government spheres. Over the years we have had the opportunity to measure the performance of leaders across these spheres, especially their commitment to accountability and delivery and whether they had the political will to transform the Human Settlements sector. And today is such a day.

Hon Chairperson, the Minister of Human Settlements, Mr Tokyo Sexwale, paid the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements a visit on 14 May 2013 and provided an overview on critical issues which were seen as real challenges for the department in the financial year under review.

The first issue I want to address relates to the funding model on programmes within the Department of Human Settlements. At the moment there are a myriad of funding laws and policies under one department, while the actual function is under another; and although a basis has been laid in terms of policy, the above still tends to have a negative impact on the current funding model. The Minister and his department need to be proactive and ensure that all relevant departments are held accountable until a new approach can be brought about, if any.

Let me remind the Minister and the department that in my speech last year, I said that South Africans deserve better, particularly with regard to the delivery of quality housing for all through an integrated approach across governmental departments. Human settlements is only one of many departments within government that is meant to deliver a sustainable livelihood to South Africa's citizens. So, the Minister and his department must further ensure that inter-governmental relations are effective. After all, they play a crucial role in any well co-ordinated delivery strategy and can be the difference between failure and success.

It was quite encouraging when the hon Minister said that the power of accountability was in planning, and I absolutely agree with him. However, after almost two decades some of the most critical issues, which relate to a sound and well-planned administration are absent within the department. Key posts in the top structures are still vacant; supply chain management is ineffective; and there is a noted lack of a functional IT unit as well as a monitoring and evaluation unit. This is unacceptable, considering the high levels of unemployment which persist in our country, particularly among South Africa's qualified youth. Today I will hand over a letter to the Minister with a message from a young qualified girl whose hope of finding a job and access to a home is fading even further away.

The next challenge within the department is the huge title-deeds backlog. We acknowledge the fact that, in terms of the RDP housing developments, municipalities are at the delivery point. However, the department should strictly monitor and evaluate municipal progress and failures to ensure money provided for this purpose is used in a responsible manner. If not, measures have to be put in place to curb unnecessary delays. The department should also engage with relevant stakeholders to find innovative and effective solutions and apply them.

Chairperson, housing challenges can be reduced if the registering of RDP houses and developments were quicker and more effective. According to the Housing Act, beneficiaries must receive title deeds within three months of handover and may not sell their homes within eight years. Illegal occupancy of RDP houses is a serious problem and the department needs to assist and ensure that the rightful beneficiaries are traced and their title deeds handed over, as well as take action against those who illegally sold RDP houses.

To date, thousands of beneficiaries are still without title deeds and houses, while heartless opportunists exploit their desperation by buying and selling RDP homes and stands illegally.

This is in stark contrast to the DA-led Western Cape, where its department of human settlements initiated a study, Minister, in 2011 to determine the extent of its title-deeds backlog. Since then, the province has reduced its title deeds backlog to 28% and has issued over 20 000 title deeds in the process. [Applause.]

I wish to thank the Public Protector and the SA Human Rights Commission for highlighting this issue in their respective presentations to the portfolio committee. It is commendable that our Chapter 9 institutions play their role and hold government to account on behalf of all South Africans.

I have taken the opportunity to write a letter to the Public Protector in which I formally requested that a full national investigation be conducted, including all nine provinces and the country's 283 municipalities, to determine the backlog in the transfer of title deeds, Minister. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

Chairperson, the national title deeds backlog is currently prohibiting thousands of South Africans from owning property and participating in the mainstream economy. These title deeds provide holders with security, proof of residence, collateral when procuring loans and credit and allow them to invest in their future. [Interjections.]

I wish to thank our portfolio chairperson, Mrs Dambuza ... [Time expired.] [Applause.] Thank you.