Hon Chairperson, the constitutionally enshrined right to housing in South Africa for all, especially our poor and most vulnerable, remains an elusive pipe dream and vain promise for millions of South Africans, who, 25 years into our democracy, still struggle with the realisation of having their own homes.
Informal settlements are burgeoning through rampant urban migration due to the lack of commercial opportunities, quality education and basic delivery in rural areas, yet the hon President, in his state of the nation address, only mentioned rural development three times. To me this was indicative of the lowest prioritisation.
As the IFP so succinctly stated in its state of the nation address response before this hon House, and I quote:
We must ensure that rural and not just urban communities are a priority too, as there has never been a successful urban
strategy without taking commensurate rural development into account.
Rural and urban communities are in essence two sides of the same coin and for us to have successful socioeconomic upliftment in South Africa, state resources must be balanced between these two sectors of our society, in order to achieve the greatest synergy possible. There are many examples of this in other countries, why are we not emulating these examples or at the very least drawing from their experiences?
Another critical issue is the dilapidated state of many of our hostels, which are underdeveloped and in a poor state of repair. A simple visit to any hostel in KwaMashu, Glebelands, Thokoza, Daveyton or Sebokeng, Vaal will show this to be the case. The people in these hostels live in subhuman conditions many of which could be comparable to the living conditions of our animals and livestock and in some instances even worse. This is a shame on this government!
Some RDP houses are being illegally occupied. The titleholders do not have occupation and in her budget speech last year, the Minister announced that the housing backlog stood at 2,1 million, with the department's budget slashed by billions. The hole is getting deeper and deeper and South Africans are not receiving what they have been promised.
Backyard dwellers are still in what they have aptly described as their cages! And Government still has no policy to address this issue. People are denied title deeds and there is little development in these previously disadvantaged areas. When these dwellers move onto vacant land for shelter, they are being evicted. Hon Minister, there must be urgent resolution and policy in this matter.
If one looks provincially in KwaZulu-Natal - listen carefully - in the previously NFP-run municipality of Nongoma, one would note that in 2012, in wards 2 and 5, 2 000 houses were promised and contractors were appointed, but construction has not begun. In Nkandla ward 6, it is the same story. In uMhlathuze, in the previous ward 5 in the then Ntambanana Local Municipality, now
ward 33, it is the same story. Contractors were appointed, but the construction has not begun. This needs urgent attention.
This is the mess in some of the municipalities that the IFP inherited when it regained control of these municipalities from the now defunct NFP. We are hard at work in these areas in delivering houses and services to the residents.
Allow me to conclude by stating the status quo as it is today. Twenty-five years into our new democracy, there is little change. It is not that we don't see change, but it is too little. [Interjections.] Poverty has been somewhat addressed, but by and large, our poor and most vulnerable have not seen change. This government must do better. And the IFP will partner with you in ensuring that the mandate of this department is achieved and we accordingly support this Budget Vote debate. I thank you. [Applause.]