10 June 2004
Madame Speaker
Minister of Housing
Honourable Members
Introduction:-
Former President Cde Nelson Mandela in his 1994 State of the Nation Address said, I quote "Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression"
Lelo bhudango lifezekile ngoMmongameli wenarha yethu uMnu Thabo Mbeki ngokufaka abomma kwikhabinethe yakhe. Kayikho enye inhlangano engakwenza lokhu yiANC kuphela! Abomama bayahlonitshwa befuthi bathathelwa phezulu umbuso odoswa phambili yi ANC.
Gender equity has been enforced in most work places and government institutions, women are part of the improved technology. Kufanelekile ukuthi thina soke abakhi besewula Afrika silandele amazwi kaMongameli wenarha wokuba sibambisane ngokusebenza ngamandla nokwakha inarha yethu, singabi sisizwe esijayele ukufunzwa nokwenzelwa!
"If you give a man a fish, he will be fed for a day, teach him to fish and he will survive for a life-time!" Masivuke sizenzele.
Hon. Members:
It is indeed essential to be part of the people's contract, through E.P.W.P. (Extended Public Works Programme) our previously disadvantaged communities will be capacitated and therefore are encouraged to participate in training in order to combat unemployment and poverty. It is also vital that all of us who wish to see a slum-free S.A., put our shoulders on the wheel and ensure that the R14,2b earmarked for housing in the following months is realised!
We are also in support of our Minister's vow to eradicate graft within the housing departments.
Madame Speaker:
On the 23/05/2004 in Gauteng a 61 year old pensioner Matusu Elizabeth Nongcama burst into tears of joy after receiving a title deed, a house and R3000 00 from the commission on Restitution of Land Rights. Nearly 40 years ago she was one of the 2000 people who were forcibly removed from Payneville because ` the colour of their skin. The handing over was part of a settlement agreement signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza in 2000. Mrs Nongcama regarded her new home and the title deed as an end of "life misery" in an informal settlement at KwaThema Springs.
Disabled:
The erstwhile government had discriminated against most of our people and were treated as sub-humans! We are grateful for a special subsidy dispensation for the disabled, to cater for the adjustment of housing products, to afford persons with disabilities the opportunity to live independently in a normal house.
Land Release:
Fast-tracking land release, installation of the necessary proper infrastructure through the programme of rapid land development and addressing the issue of social amenities will ease the pressure of homelessness.
Building Technologies (PARASTATALS)
+- 14% of our people still live in semi and deep rural areas, due to poverty, they are still compelled to use traditional/indigenous building methods. There is a need for promotion and improvement on these indigenous technologies. The CSIR (BOUTEK) division is capable of such research work and it should carry out the mandate!
Education &Training:
The department has done a sterling work by putting in place the following capacitation programmes:-
People's Housing Process/P.H.P.T:.
Hon. MEMBERS
To support the P.H.P. 62 Cuban Community architects and engineers have been deployed in all nine Provinces and their participation is commendable! In June 1997 the Department of Housing established the P.H.P.T. The main objective of the programme is to develop capacity at all levels of government NGO's, CBO's and communities to support the P.H.P. The policy is aimed at assisting people access:-
P..H.P is heralded as one vehicle that provides quality and bigger houses, it is also good to see the Department shifting from "Developer-Driven Paradigm to a new community driven housing process.
Lastly a housing consumer education programme of which is being piloted in the Western Cape, KZN, G.P, and F.S.
Madam Speaker/Chair:
Some Municipalities feel that the P.H.P is very slow and seem not to be in favour of supporting it and we believe such Municipalities or individuals within such councils should be identified, exposed and be re-mandated to do the right thing for the people. However, most Provinces like Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State have welcomed this programme and have shown tremendous improvement, (eg) the Free State has 20 housing support centres.
Progress has also been made at Mamelodi Ext. 5, Gauteng Oukasie (Brits) Mathatheng Rural Housing Project (North West) Rhaloti in the Eastern Cape and Gamalakhe Tin Town in KZN, whereby 600 houses were completed in December 2000.
Child Headed Households:
Hon. Chair/Speaker
In conclusion I wish to say that "Young trees make strong forests." It is traumatic for children to spend long years watching their parents becoming ill, care for them through illness and watch them die!
Akukho umntwana onetlhogomelo elaneleko osuke agcwale ummango, ebe, befuthi athengise ngomzimba ukuze athole imali nokudla.
The response to these orphans needs to be comprehensive, immediate and compassionate. The Gauteng Department of Social Services, Education and Health ensures that these orphans are adequately clothed, properly fed and attend schools regularly. The challenge therefore is to join hands with the Department of Housing, Social Development, Health and Land Affairs, including CBO's, FBO's, and NGO's in ensuring that there's a responsible family member who will continue looking after the immovable assets of these children(orphans) until they reach a stage of majority, or cluster homes be prepared for children who are orphans as a result of the syndrome.
The ANC supports this budget vote.
Ngiyathokoza!