Mr K Lekgoro, the MEC for Local Government and Housing, indicated that the population of the province was growing rapidly and the department may not reach the target set on housing delivery. The policy that gave free houses to every citizen aged 18 years and above was not sustainable. The housing backlog was increasing to 700 000. However, the Provincial Department only received a budget that could provide for the building of 30 000 units per year. The conversion of hostels into family housing units was also a costly exercise as hostel dwellers could not afford to pay rent. Most of the people who lived in hostels were elderly people who were solely dependent on social grants for a living while others were unemployed. Most dwellers could not afford to pay R300 for rental. They could only afford R70 towards rental.