Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy Minister, indeed the cost of providing houses for the poor has thus far been phenomenal, though unnecessarily so. The backlog is huge. Had there been strict monitoring and supervision of the housing projects right from the beginning and all of the time, a lot of waste could have been avoided and government would not be talking of cut-off dates.
The principle of Each One Settle One is a noble one. In fact, it tallies very well with the principle of ubuntu, both at company and at individual level. However, government should not use this to abdicate its responsibility of providing houses for the poorest of the poor.
What mechanisms are being put in place by the department to monitor the success and effectiveness of the project to ensure that it makes a difference, and what has been the response so far, from the private sector in particular? Thank you.