Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, the present South African government has identified the need to introduce rural housing programmes and to ensure access to housing opportunities as a means to address the imbalances of the past. There is a specific emphasis on the right of everyone to have access to adequate housing as a fundamental human right in terms of the Constitution. The state's responsibility is to achieve the progressive realisation of this right.
Farmworker housing has been neglected in South Africa in the past. The farmworker housing policy tabled in 2004 specifically targets the constraints that have been hampering housing delivery in rural and farm areas. There is a need to upgrade the living conditions of people on farms where they are currently living, in order to ensure the right to adequate shelter, as envisioned by the Constitution. A comprehensive plan has been developed by the government that will bring about improved living conditions for people who live in rural communities. Efforts made since the dawn of democracy in 1994 have been geared towards ameliorating the negative consequences of economic, social and political exclusion and the marginalisation of the rural dwellers.
Siyabonga Ndvuna kutsi siyambona khongolose usachubeka usatibophelele ngekutsi akhele bantfu bakitsi emaphandleni tindlu, abakhele lapho bahlala khona. Futsi siyakubonga kutsi uyabakhela netindlu tangasese, ngisho nemithoyi lebenta kutsi bayisebentise ngesizotsa, kunekutsi abakhele tindlu tangasese letivulekile njengaleti lesitibonile emaMakhaza. (Translation of Siswati paragraph follows.)
[We thank you, Minister, that we can see the ANC is still committed to building houses for our people in the rural areas, where they stay. We thank you again that you are building them toilets, I am referring to toilets that they may use with dignity, rather than building open toilets like the ones we saw in Makhaza.]
Firstly, the creation of sustainable livelihoods and decent work in rural areas largely, but not solely, within agriculture will bring about improved living conditions. In this context, the land reform programme should be intensified in ways that ensure more land in the hands of the rural poor, together with the skills, financial resources and organisations, especially cooperatives needed for them to use it productively. Secondly, the improvement of government services, especially education, health, human settlements and sanitation, will bring improved living conditions. Third is the introduction of measures to improve conditions for farmworkers, both by improving their security of tenure, housing and living conditions and supporting their organisations, including unions. These led to the introduction of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, with a clear vision of creating vibrant, equitable, sustainable rural communities and food security for all.
Our President, in his state of the nation address, emphasised the creation of jobs for all South Africans, including people in the rural areas, as a key priority. The rural job creation and skills development model is intended to provide stability and skills to the rural households. This can be achieved through the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme.
Ngekubambisana kwematiko ahulumende ekuphuculeni nekuletsa imphucuko etindzaw eni tasemakhaya,bantfu bakitsi batawutfola imisebenti futsi bacecesheke ngemakhono ekwenta imisebenti njengekwakha tindlu, imigwaco kanye nekunakekela imvelo. Nekuba netingandze emakhaya lapho batawukhona kutjala khona imifino kute baphile imphilo lencono. Ematfuba emisebenti etindzaweni tasemakhaya atawunciphisa kuhamba kwebantfu bakitsi baye emadolobheni. Loko Ndvuna kutawunciphisa nalesiminyaminya semikhukhu etindzaweni tasemadolobheni. (Translation of Siswati paragraph follows.)
[Working in collaboration with government departments in improving and bringing civilization to rural areas, our people are going to get jobs like building houses, roads and in nature conservation. They will also have gardens at their homes to plant vegetables so that they live a better life. Job opportunities in rural areas will reduce migration of our people to urban areas. Minister, that will also reduce the shack congestion in urban areas.]
The Rural Housing Loan Fund, established by the Cabinet in 1996, continues to be the champion of the rural working poor to incrementally improve their housing and living conditions. The fund will empower people in rural areas to maximise their housing choices. It will also improve their living conditions with access to housing finance from sustainable retail lenders and access to a government subsidy, through the Individual Rural Housing Subsidy Voucher Programme.
The Rural Housing Loan Fund remains true to its mission, in spite of the challenging microfinance environment. The Rural Housing Loan Fund has been able to support housing delivery by facilitating finance through intermediaries for the working poor who want to improve their living conditions in nonmetropolitan areas, including the deep rural areas of South Africa. The loan also means the provision of loans for improving traditional houses in communal land. It will support the building of new, quality houses, especially rural gap-market houses, and will enable access to services, water, energy and sanitation.
In conclusion, more of our people in rural areas have access to a secure place to live in than they had before 1994. All in all, rural human settlements have improved, they enjoy better access to land, more secure tenure, and more people are in the formal housing structure, with better access to water, electricity and sanitation.
Tonkhe letintfo leti Ndvuna,kungumphumela wahulumende welubandlululo. Hulumende we-ANC ngete akhona kukugucula loko ngekuphatima kweliso. Kodvwa ngekuniketwa sikhatsi bantfu bakitsi utawukhona kugucula timphilo tebantfu atente tibe ncono. Ngiyabonga. [Lihlombe.] (Translation of Siswati paragraph follows.)
[All of these things, Minister, are consequences of the apartheid government. The ANC government cannot be able to change them within a short time. If it is given time by our people it will be able to change people's lives for the better. I thank you. [Applause.]]