Hon Speaker, the Minister and I have discussed this question and I thank the member for asking it. The essence of the question asked by the hon Dambuza is the empowerment of people to construct their own houses. When people construct their own houses, as in the case of the People's Housing Process, PHP, they help with the reduction of undesirable dependence upon state resources. It is Vukuzenzele; it is Letsema.
To be more specific, the authority for the enactment of legislation, the introduction of policies, and the establishment of co-operatives vests with the Minister of Trade and Industry. My department, therefore, works within the policy and legislative framework put in place by the Department of Trade and Industry. Through this department the Co-operatives Act of 2005 was enacted, supported by the policy.
However, in view of the fact that housing co-operatives may apply for developmental capital and capacity-building assistance in terms of national housing programmes for social housing and institutional housing subsidies, the Department of Human Settlements has developed guidelines for housing co- operatives. These guidelines will assist housing co-operatives to apply for accreditation with the Social Housing Regulatory Authority, SHRA, and applied development capital available through the national housing programme. Once the said guidelines are approved, they will be forwarded to SHRA for finalisation and communication with the housing co-operatives.
The SHRA will also be requested to develop a specific strategy to generate momentum towards delivery of housing co-operative opportunities. The SHRA regulations presently being drafted will take into account measures to promote and support the co-operatives within the human settlement sector. The housing co-operatives and PHP are the future for human settlements beyond the cut-off date. These programmes will be relevant. They are about broadening the housing and building markets. I thank you, Speaker.