Chair, allow me to thank the officials from the Department of Human Settlements, led by Adv Tladi, who are over there, for their hard work. I agree with the hon member and chairperson Pat Sibande when he said that the process that has led to where we are has been robust and inclusive. I also want to welcome the support that I am getting from members on these two Bills.
The issue that I want to raise pertains to the member from the provincial legislature, Mr Visser, when he said that the issue of taxation makes him unable to support the Community Schemes Ombud Service Bill. I just want to remind him that the Western Cape, in particular, is a province that is robust in building Gateway houses. If we don't have a mechanism in terms of the provisions of Parliament to resolve disputes that may arise in the ranks of those residents, it is going to be difficult for them to resolve such issues. Remember, we just delivered the Dromedaris housing project, the housing in Mitchells Plain, and many other Gateway houses that we are building as part of this process. If we do not have mechanisms to resolve disputes arising from these building developments, it is going to be a problem.
We also want to say that we are the last people to be lectured about the poverty of our people. If we raise this Bill, if we are going to tax people, we must remember that we have government bodies that cater for the indigent. There is the National Indigent Policy and Legal Aid - people do not have the resources to pay for themselves in issues like these. What we are saying here is that this service will be on their doorstep and they will identify with the people and know that they are best at resolving issues arising out of these kinds of settlements. We urge the province to support the legislation because we want to make life easier for you as well.
I agree with Mr Jacobs that the Bill itself states clearly that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. I must also talk to the hon member Themba regarding the e-housing concept. I think it is an issue that we will be looking at, because we would like to ensure that we deliver houses of quality and also ensure that in those communities we build homes. Therefore, e-housing is one of the issues that we will be looking at and discussing with you.
To Mr Feldman, who spoke about the issue of interactive websites, I think it is advisable to ensure that we reach out to our people. The Department of Human Settlements is one of those departments that wants to work with other departments. We heard the issue of communications; we will rope them in and work with them to ensure that as they deliver websites to everybody else, the people who live in Gateway houses, or even in the affordable houses we built in the subsidy band, will be able to benefit from communications and e-housing.
I must leave it at that because I believe there is not much to debate because all members are supporting this Bill. Do not worry about the Western Cape - I think they are still suffering from election fever but I must remind them that the ANC is here to govern, even in the Western Cape. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Bill be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Sectional Titles Schemes Management Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Community Schemes Ombud Service Bill be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West.
AGAINST: Western Cape.
Community Schemes Ombud Service Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.