Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Ministers present, hon members, comrades and distinguished guests, the Medium-Term Strategic Framework, MTSF, of the ANC and of government positions human settlements as a key to achieving two strategic objectives: firstly, the expansion of social and economic infrastructure; secondly, building cohesive and caring sustainable communities.
The shift in focus from housing to human settlements was due to the realisation that housing is not just about building shelters. Instead, it is about economic growth and social development of people and the quality of their existence, which must result in sustainable development. The Breaking New Ground programme is regarded as a response to this challenge.
The ANC is paying attention to key policy development focusing on particular areas. These areas are informal settlement upgrading, integrated residential development, rural and social housing and focus on the development needs of an entire community and area.
Among the challenges that have been addressed in this approach are inadequate planning and the lack of co-ordination and integration of different government functions. A further challenge is the building of social cohesion and spatial capital. To a large extent housing delivery still negates the role of civil society and the citizens themselves, therefore undermining social capital and building dependency on the state while burdening the state and compromising its delivery capacity.
Sihlalo, inkomfa kaKhongolose yamashumi amahlanu nambili yavumelana ngokuthi kufanele kube nomthetho ozophasiswa yileli Phalamende ozovimbela ukuqhibuka kwamakhowe ezindawo ezingahlelelwe imijondolo noma imikhukhu. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, the 52nd Conference of the ANC resolved that there must be a law passed by this Parliament to prohibit the mushrooming of places where shacks are illegally erected.]
Furthermore, it called for a centralised approach to planning to be adopted so as to direct resource allocation, distribution and an overall co- ordinated response to human settlements. It called upon government to consider assisting people with building material, so as to encourage the involvement of people in addressing in a practical manner the provision of housing, to address backlogs and respond to the growth in informal settlements.
Progress in implementing this resolution has seen a central planning framework being developed to direct resource allocation for housing. In addition, the Housing Development Agency, HAD, is accelerating land acquisition in specific and targeted areas. After engagement with the private sector on their commitment, the Department of Human Settlement received R4,5 billion from the private sector through the Housing Charter Agreement. At our National General Council in September 2010, we evaluated our progress and resolutions since our 52nd National Conference.
SiwuKhongolose sikubhekile saphawula ukuthi zingaphezu kwezigidi ezintathu izindlu ezakhiwe kusukela ngonyaka we-1994. Sikubonile futhi sabona ukuthi kuyimpumelelo enkulu kakhulu lokho. [As the ANC, we evaluated our progress and noted that more than three million houses have been built since 1994. We noted this and realised that this is a huge achievement.]
Africa still has over 2 700 informal settlements. The pace of housing delivery for the period 2010 to 2014 is estimated at 230 000 per annum.
Inkinga enkulu iba ekutheni liphezulu kakhulu izinga lokusuka kwabantu ezindaweni zabo, baye ezindaweni lapho bangathola khona amathuba amahle emisebenzi. Yilokho-ke okwenza kube nesidingo sokuthi sikhuphule izinga noma sandise isibalo sezindlu sibe ngaphezu kwalezi esesizakhile kumanje nje. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[The major problem is that there is a huge influx of people from their home towns to places where they might get better job opportunities. That is why there is a need to build even more houses than the ones that we have built already.] Chairperson, our 52nd National Conference resolved that shelter provision on its own was not enough and that a more holistic approach to human settlement must guide government's housing programme. The challenge we face is that litigation still prevents the introduction of legislation to constrain informal settlement.
There is an urgent need to revise the current funding model, as well as technical and programmatic options so as to produce the desired impact of increased human settlement delivery. In addition, there is a need to revisit the centrality of the state in human settlements delivery. In considering the centrality of the state, there is a need to reconsider the human settlement mandate and its alignment in terms of powers, policy development and funding-related responsibilities.
Sihlalo kufanele kube khona imizamo emisha yokunciphisa indlela yokuhlala njengoba sazi ukuthi uhulumeni wobandlululo...[Isikhathi sesiphelile.] Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] [Chairperson there must be new attempts to reduce the way in which accommodation is provided as we know that the apartheid government ... Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]]