Nqanga nentsiba zayo! Sihlalo, mandiqale ngondoqo. Umbutho wesizwe i-ANC, unyawo zabezolo, uyaluxhasa olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali. [All protocol observed. Chairperson, let me start with the key issue. The people's party, the ANC, the esteemed party, supports this Budget Vote.] The Human Settlements institutions have been established to facilitate the specific housing and housing-related needs of the market, in addition to the role played by the provincial government and municipalities.
The land question and sustainable human settlements in South Africa have been the cornerstones of the Department of Human Settlements. The forced removal of African people under colonialism and apartheid resulted not only in the physical separation of people along racial lines, but also in extreme land shortages, insecure land rights and poverty of the majority of black people. As a result, the country has seen the mushrooming of informal settlements. However, the most notable cause of informal settlements is the high migration from rural areas by people who are in search of job opportunities and better living conditions than what is available in the rural areas.
The march towards sustainable development in South Africa affects many facets of people's livelihoods and there is a search for multidimensional solutions to many problems. Therefore any discourse on sustainable development must take the land question into consideration, since land is at the centre of a number of complex and integrated factors, which include the social, political, economical and environmental sphere.
For the complete realisation of sustainable human settlements in this country a policy, Breaking New Ground, was promulgated in 2004. Its vision is to reflect a change in policy from "the provision of housing" to "the creation of sustainable human settlements". It marks an initiative to integrate previously excluded groups into cities and give them access to the socio-economic benefits that cities can bring.
The Department of Human Settlements instituted the Housing Development Agency, HDA, whose mandate, role and function are defined in the Housing Development Agency Act, Act 23 of 2008. The HDA has been mandated to identify, acquire, hold, develop and release privately and state-owned land for residential community purposes and the creation of sustainable human settlements.
It is of paramount importance for this House and the nation as a whole to know about some of the achievements of the HDA. In terms of the performance delivery agreements signed between the President and the Minister and further elaborated in the delivery agreement signed between the Minister and the director-general, the HDA has identified 6 250 hectares of well- located state-owned land and buildings for human settlement development.
The birth of democracy in South Africa escalated urbanisation and population growth in the cities. On the other hand, the lifting of sanctions positioned South African cities as places for all, for development and the creation of wealth.
Approximately a fifth of all South African households, or 2,3 million households, rent their primary dwelling. I would like to draw your attention to the following. The demand for all types of housing is high, particularly rental accommodation. In this regard location, quality and high rates of mobility are important. The demand for rental housing is estimated at some 100 000 units per annum in the middle-income to lower- income groups. Rental housing provides access to affordable, well-located accommodation for those who choose not to, or may not be able to, purchase property. Rented housing plays a critical role for those who cannot access housing finance. It allows greater flexibility and mobility.
As the leading economy of the Southern continent and the main moving power behind the New Partnership for Africa's Development, South Africa is trying to respond to the Millennium Development Goals in ways that few other nations in Africa are even considering as yet. Goal 7, Target 11, addresses the spread of shack housing among the world's poor. By 2020 we aim to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
The demand for housing is growing substantially as the population grows, as families migrate to urban areas and as existing housing conditions deteriorate. Since the introduction of the social housing programme in 1998, more than 42 000 rental housing units have been developed, using the institutional subsidy programme.
The National Rental Housing Strategy, which was approved in 2008, sets the delivery target of 100 000 rental units by 2012. This will comprise 75 000 social housing and 25 000 community residential units. The Affordable Rental Housing Programme is one of government's initiatives to address the housing backlogs. The objective of this programme, which has an urban focus, is to increase the rate of affordable rental housing delivery to 300 000 units a year by 2014.
The Social Housing Act, Act No 16 of 2008, was promulgated on 1 September 2009 and has established the Social Housing Regulatory Authority. The mandate of the SHRA is to invest in social housing and to regulate the sector. The vision was affordable rental homes in integrated urban environments through sustainable institutions. SHRA aims to integrate the Minister's vision that people should be able to live, work, play and pray in their own areas, which implies social, economic and spatial restructuring. SHRA's social housing projects embody the vision of the Minister.
I would like to commend the national Department of Human Settlements for their efforts on the amendment of the Rental Housing Act of 1999. The Act was initially amended in 2007 and further amendments are in process. The Bill is before the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements and the amendments are envisaged to be completed in due course.
The issues affecting rural communities are very close to my heart as one of those whose origins are in a rural area. The development of human settlements should not only take place in urban areas. That is why the government has taken the decision to roll out programmes that would assist communities in rural areas to also realise the better life for all that the ANC has been promising.
In line with the promise made during the elections, at his inauguration and in the state of the nation address, President Zuma paid a successful visit to the Limpopo province. He officially launched the multibillion rand comprehensive rural development at Muyexe village, one of the three poor villages identified as pilot projects. This project was followed by many others that government has earmarked for development. This clearly shows how serious government is about creating a better life for all in this country.
The Department of Human Settlements has a number of housing subsidies that allow people to gain access to housing and adequate shelter. Among these is the creation of the Rural Housing Loan Fund, which has been in existence for almost 12 years. The mandate of the RHLF is to make loans available to low-income households in rural areas to build or improve their houses. Many people in rural areas remain unemployed or on a very low income and we are faced with rising food and energy costs. Low-income earners use a large portion of their income to pay for transport, leaving little disposable income. Let me also acknowledge the existence of the National Home Builders Registration Council. Established in 1998 in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, Act 95 of 1998 ... Ndiyabulela. [Thank you.] [Time expired.] [Applause.]