Chairperson, yes, we have had a series of engagements with provinces and municipalities in dealing with the matter the member has raised. I must also say that the issue of the housing backlog has a history. What this government is committed to doing is exactly what the Freedom Charter wants us to do - to provide houses, security and comfort.
I'm happy that you have been part of this process of this department in which we are delivering housing in the Mbombela Municipality. We are not only building houses, but ensuring that there are clinics, schools and a crche. At that development you would see that there is a crche and a multipurpose centre.
I also want to say to you that we do have a programme that we have revitalised to ensure that we speak to the issue of the housing backlog. We have intensified the rental stock. We are trying to ensure that informal settlements are upgraded. We have what you call in situ upgrading of informal settlements.
In the light of that, we are also continuing with our pilot projects. The N2 Gateway is one example. The Zanemvula project is another example. We are also promoting what we call community residential units, CRUs. So, at the end of the day, we encourage co-ops in terms of housing. We are also encouraging members of the community to build housing for themselves - the People's Housing Process, PHP. That programme is going ahead and we are ensuring that we are rolling it out in all provinces.
What we also want to say is that the provision of housing is not the responsibility of government alone. We need partnerships. We need the private sector to come in, and we are having discussions with big companies to ensure that they come on board in terms of the provision of housing. We want NGOs and CPOs to be involved, as well as individual members of the community to work with government. We are saying, "Working together, we can do more." I thank you.
UMBHEXESHI OYINTLOKO WEBHUNGA: Enkosi, Sekela-Mphathiswa, ngempendulo. Njengoko sonke siyingxamele le nkqubo, kananjalo usazi ukuba abantu abanazindlu kwaye sizama ukuphucula iimeko ematyotyombeni, ingaba isebe lakho liya kubavumela na oomasipala ukuba nabo babe ngabakhi okanye le nto sithi zii-developers ngesiLungu?
USEKELA-MPHATHISWA WOBONELELO NGEENDAWO ZOKUHLALA: Lungu elibekekileyo, siyabavumela oomasipala ukuba bokhe izindlu, kodwa kukho oomasipala abangenako ukuwenza lo msebenzi kuba unzima kubo.
Oomasipala, ingakumbi ezidolophini ezinkulu ezifana noo- ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Thank you for your response, Deputy Minister. I would like to know whether, as we are looking forward to this project knowing that people have no houses and that we are also trying to improve conditions in informal settlements, your department will allow municipalities to be constructors as well, what we call developers in English?