Hon Chairperson, I think the collective view of our people out there, assembled in the nine provinces and listening to this debate, will be that no one in this House does not believe in them having proper shelter. I would like to believe that they know that this Minister, together with the department and the various provinces represented here, remain committed. I want to recognise the presence of two Members of the Executive Council, MECs, who are the foot soldiers of human settlements. They are MEC Kenny Moemang from the Northern Cape, and MEC Memezi from my province, Gauteng, as well as the various foot soldiers on the ground, namely the heads of department, HODs, who are here. [Applause.] We remain committed to providing proper and adequate shelter to our people. There is nothing that will diminish that commitment.
Secondly, we will leave this debate wiser and take with us the positive points that have been made here - and let's engage outside this House too, because these 5 or 10 minutes cannot build houses for us. We at the Department of Human Settlements are very open to good ideas and suggestions. Mrs Njobe, we want to engage with you on rural housing.
I have just come from eMsinga in KwaZulu-Natal, where with the Deputy President we were delivering houses to the people. What a place, but also a difficult one to be confronted with! I agree with you, hon Steyn, that there is a crisis. But you will have to agree that the stink of Makhaza is also a crisis. We would like to work with you to make sure that our people are not subjected to such conditions. They are hoping that solutions will arise from this debate so that they can be housed adequately.
I want to tackle one more point that was raised here: the issue of job creation. Human Settlements is one of the biggest job-creation areas to be found anywhere in the world. The United States economy collapsed due to the issue of housing. When the housing and housing finance institutions, the mortgages and so on came down, Obama found that the economy came tumbling down with it. Of course, we were affected here. We believe that through what we do - providing land, places and plots for people to dig in, put up bricks, mortar, iron, steel and all types of materials - we create jobs everyday. Again, that resonates with the policy of the New Growth Path. What people need, beyond the words that we can give them here in this House, are jobs. With a job, you have the key to education, health, housing and more.
The time will come some day when there will be a cut-off point, because a developmental state cannot continue to be a welfare state. But, for now, we cannot turn our backs on our people. Every day when I leave for work I see Mrs Shaheed and Mrs Lujalajala before me. I want to invite her - I hope she is listening in Gauteng - as we will be coming back to Diepsloot.
Sir, I didn't sleep in Diepsloot. I went there to work on your behalf so that I could see the conditions. I was born in a squatter camp, where Orlando Stadium is now. So, when I went to Diepsloot, it wasn't a media stunt. I will be going back there with R100 million, which is the total amount that the Director-General told me is available, so that we can begin to show people that we are committed with the money that has been given to me by you, the members of this House.
I assure you that we will employ those funds well. The National Home Builders Registration Council, NHBRC, is under my very close, watchful eye. Its new chairperson, Dr Rev Mehane, is here today. I have installed him and will be sitting with them to make sure that things are done properly. Indeed, we cannot continue to rectify substandard houses. I am the Minister of Human Settlements, who must provide human beings with shelter, not the "Minister of rectification". I heard what you said and I take it on.
Ka Sesotho ba re ke hlokwana la tsela. [In Sesotho they call it a grapevine.]
What you have said is good advice for me. So, rest assured that your Minister will respond. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.