Human Settlements MEC delivers Budget speech

Athenkosi Mvane
25 March 2015

Today, MEC of Human Settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela delivered the departmental budget for this year.

According to Madikizela the Department of their R1.725 billion budget, 93% of it is used on those earning less than R3 500 per month.

The amount is to provide housing solutions to those who would otherwise not be able to afford their own accommodation.

Madikizela said that they had reached 99% expenditure of their budget, and are well on track to meet the target they had set for themselves.

“We have faced a number of challenges where in some instances projects have been delayed, due to challenges like bulk infrastructure, social unrest and late last year and early this year farmworker housing strikes which halted service delivery in some areas” Madikizela said.

Meanwhile, as South Africa commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the Land Act of 1913 which left many people without land, the Department will ensure people secure the rights to their own land. 

The department is also working towards modernizing the houses that they build in the province.

The Department said it is breaking new ground in how they are building new houses from now on.

Madikizela said the houses that are built in Delft, using alternative building technologies that have not been used in South Africa before now.

Madikizela said they are facing challenges from people because they do not understand the technology used to build the houses.

“We strongly believe if we want to respond to the call of global warming and climate change; green energy and environmentally friendly houses are built, that is the way to go” Madikizela added.