Backlog of over 2 million housing units

By Chanel September
21 October 2006

A total of 500 000 houses would have to be built every year to meet the Housing Department’s own target of eradicating informal settlements by 2014.

The department is rolling out 250 000 housing unit a year, but there is still an estimated backlog of over 2 million housing units.

According to director general Itumeleng Kotsoane there could be a shortage of cement.

The housing department was criticised this week by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel who questioned the accuracy of the official figures of houses that had been built since 1994.