Chairperson, Chief Whip of the NCOP, Minister of Education, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Public Services, hon Pat Sibande, hon members, I greet you this afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to present these two pieces of legislation in this august House. This takes place at a time when the ANC has emerged victorious in the local government elections.
Let me begin by explaining why these Bills are presented jointly. This is due to the current nature of the Department of Human Settlements' mandate. Our Constitution compels us to co-operate and collaborate with provinces and local governments in the development and delivery of sustainable and integrated human settlements.
Last year, during our Budget Vote for 2010, we adopted Human Settlements Vision 2030 to chart our way forward in the delivery of human settlements. This strategy is pivotal to the transformation of our settlements into areas where people can live, have leisure and recreation and where they can pray.
Integral deliverables of this strategy include creating a nonracial society with cohesive and integrated human settlements closer to places of work and social amenities. An increase in the accessibility and affordability of home ownership can help stimulate the construction sector, which will provide much-needed jobs.
Human Settlements Vision 2030 is all about acceleration of the development of sustainable human settlements for all South Africans. It is encouraging to note that all provinces are supportive of the legislative direction we are taking to stimulate the creation of cohesive and integrated human settlements. Working in partnership with provinces and local government we shall realise this dream. The contribution of the private sector is also noted in this regard.
Chairperson, we are tabling two Bills for consideration and passing the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Bill and the Community Schemes Ombud Service Bill. This is simultaneously done due to the complementary nature of the mandate, as I've said earlier.
When a sectional title or community scheme is established, a tripartite relationship is formed: an ownership of real right to the sectional unit, an undivided collective ownership of the undivided common property or area by owners, and participation in the management structure of the scheme. The objective of these two pieces of legislation is to foster good governance and relations to nurture this relationship. The Bills will be instrumental in ensuring good governance and improving the administration of sectional titles and community schemes.
Our people who live and stay in various forms of community housing schemes such as high-rise residential areas, townhouse complexes and gated villages will now have legal protection to safeguard their relationships with one another and their real rights.
These properties are administered by associations such as body corporates, share block companies, home owners' associations and housing schemes for retired persons. More and more South Africans are beginning to look for shelter in these residential spaces in search of comfort and security.
The key features of these Bills are as follows: The Sectional Titles Schemes Management Bill provides for the establishment of a body corporate to manage and regulate the upkeep of common properties within sectional title schemes. For the efficient administration of the legislation, provision is made for the establishment of the sectional titles schemes management advisory council to advise the Minister on an array of matters concerning sectional title schemes within the country.
The second Bill, the Community Schemes Ombud Service Bill, establishes a community schemes ombud service as a public entity with executive authority vested with the Minister to resolve disputes emanating from within the community schemes.
An ever-increasing proportion of human settlements is being developed in the form of community schemes, which triggered the tripartite relations of co-ownership, cogovernance and shared financial responsibility. Quite often the cordial relations among the owners may deteriorate, giving rise to problems and disputes as they involve control and administration of finances, facilities and behaviour requiring effective resolution. Hence the current Bills are put before this House.
Currently, there are no effective and affordable dispute resolution mechanisms available to parties involved in community schemes. The Community Schemes Ombud Service Bill is aimed at addressing this gap.
In conclusion, the two pieces of legislation will assist in the restoration of good governance and harmonise relations within sectional titles and community schemes. They will facilitate transformation of the community schemes environment and they will also assist the department towards the realisation of the objective of cohesive and integrated communities.
They represent another step forward towards the achievement of Human Settlements Vision 2030. The sectional titles and community schemes landscape will be transformed to the betterment of the property market. I thank you.