Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members and honoured guests, South Africa has entered its second decade of freedom with clear evidence of the deepening of democracy, the construction of a national democratic society and the acceleration of the ANC programme to improve the quality of life for all the people.
Adequate shelter and services are basic human rights which place an obligation on government to ensure that this is attained for all people. In particular, government's focus must be on the urban poor and the rural masses through dedicated self-help and community-action programmes. For this to happen, government must remove all impediments hindering the attainment of these goals, to ensure social integration and cohesion through the creation of integrated communities.
In 2004, Cabinet adopted a comprehensive housing plan, aimed at promoting and enhancing the creation of integrated, co-ordinated and sustainable human settlements. Since the launch of the plan, various initiatives have been launched which sustain themselves, such as the farmworker housing- assistance programme and the establishment of the Housing Development Agency.
ANC policy brought about a concept shift from housing to human settlements, after the 2009 national and provincial elections. The conceptual shift arose because of the need for a new approach - a paradigm shift beyond housing. The shift is about homes. It is not just about a change of name. It is about a change in mindset, resource allocation and programmes.
The President, in his state of the nation address in June 2009, articulated this when he said, and I quote:
As part of infrastructure development, we will provide suitably located and affordable housing and decent human settlements. We will proceed from the understanding that human settlements is not about building houses. It is about transforming our cities and towns and building cohesive, sustainable and caring communities, with closer access to work and social amenities, including sports and recreation facilities.
This holistic and comprehensive response relates to moving towards inclusive and sustainable community development and optimal access to these communities. This approach informs the ANC's response to human development. The philosophical approach recognises the importance of creating habitable, attractive and efficient settlements which places the human being at the centre of any community development and recognises the heritage and the culture of its people, including making provision for those with special needs, children, women and people living with disabilities.
In January 2010, the Cabinet lekgotla adopted an outcomes-based approach to service delivery. Each outcome has a limited number of measurable outputs with targets. Each output is linked to a set of activities. Outcome 8 speaks directly to human settlements, setting targets for creating sustainable human settlements and improving the quality of the lives of households.
Given its mandate - facilitating and co-ordinating sustainable human settlements - the Department of Human Settlements should be seen as an anchor, fundamental to the social transformation of society, implementing policy directions and ensuring that social transformation and nation- building are achieved.
Andizi kutsho nto malunga ne-Medium Term Expenditure Framework kuba uMphathiswa sele ethethile ngayo. Kwintetho yakhe engobume besizwe, uMongameli ubalule ... [I won't say anything about the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework; the hon Minister has talked about it. In his state of the nation address, the hon President mentioned ...]
... that the strategic objectives are to ensure security of tenure and access to basic services for 100 000 households by 2014, improving the delivery of rental accommodation, rolling out the infrastructure development programme, including projects of the provision of water, electricity and housing and spending R2,6 billion on water services in 2011 in the priority areas, which are the provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
Siza kuzilandelela ke ezi zinto, Mphathiswa ohloniphekileyo. [We will follow up on these things, hon Minister.]
The Medium-Term Strategic Framework positions human settlements as key to achieving two outcomes, which are the expansion of social and economic infrastructure and the building of cohesive, sustainable communities. The policy-induced shift from housing to human settlements was informed by the realisation that housing is not just about building a shelter overhead, but rather it is about economic growth and social development.
It is in this context that human settlements must be seen as an instrument and object of development. The goals of settlement policies are inseparable from the goals of every sector in social and economic life. Human settlements development acts as a catalyst for economic growth, development and poverty alleviation. This includes the broader concept of ownership. It includes land and housing as a productive asset and creator of wealth. The national housing subsidy scheme became a critical part of the poverty- eradicating strategy. It represents the biggest single government transfer to poor households and has a greater impact on the quality of people's lives. Ownership, theoretically, provides some financial security and enables the transfer of property, a family asset, from one generation to another.
UMphathiswa sele endikhathulele. Andizi kuba sathetha kakhulu ngohlahlo- lwabiwo-mali, kuba sele ethethile ngezi zigidi zezigidi. Ndiza kugxadaza. [The hon Minister has done a lot for me. I won't talk too much about the budget, because he has talked about these millions of millions. I will be brief.]
The following infrastructure grants constitute the transfers. Firstly, there is the Human Settlements Development Grant, which is R14,9 billion. The service delivery output for this grant is to ensure that houses are completed and site-serviced. Secondly, there is the Urban Settlements Development Grant, which is R6,3 billion. The service delivery output for this grant is to ensure that bulk infrastructure is installed.
Siza kuyilandelela ke, Mphathiswa. [We will follow up, hon Minister.]
In terms of capital expenditure, a total of R231 million is allocated to the Rural Household Infrastructure Grant. The grant was established in 2010 with the aim of eradicating water and sanitation backlogs over a three-year period. The grant facilitates community involvement in the creation and maintenance of facilities, thereby creating employment and ensuring sustainability and cost effectiveness.
In this regard, the Rural Household Infrastructure Grant could play an important role in aligning the department with 2011 job-creation initiatives, as announced in the 2011 state of the nation address. The grant is set to increase to R517 million in 2013-14. However, in 2010, only 50% of the allocated grant was spent, mainly due to implementation challenges related to the shift in function.
With regard to the impact assessment of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, the agreement between Human Settlements, Public Enterprises, Public Works, Rural Development and Land Reform is a positive step. The Ministers have agreed that in order to achieve the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals, a robust mechanism must be introduced to harvest public land and the tiers of government and to secure such land for human settlement development purposes. The delivery agreement outlines the action plan to achieve the objectives or to release state land and to guide the efforts of their respective departments.
Ndiyavala ngoku. [Kwahlekwa.] Sikwazile ukusebenzisana nesebe amatyeli amaninzi. Zikhona izinto esithe sabonisana ngazo eziseza kuqhubeka kule mali siyinikiweyo. Sifumanise ukuba kukhona ukwehla komgangatho wezi nkqubo zilapha, kodwa ke sisaxoxisana nesebe. Sibon' ukuba masiyazise iPalamente ukuba asiyiyekanga nje. Siyibambile, siyaqhubeka nezoo ngxoxo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[I'm concluding now. [Laughter.] We managed to co-operate with the department several times. We have talked about the things that we will still continue to do with our allocated budget. We have found out that the standard of the programmes here is low, but we are still discussing this with the department. We felt that we must let Parliament know that we have not left it unattended. We are dealing with it; we are continuing with the discussions.]
There are challenges that we as the committee have identified and observed. In the first instance ... uMphathiswa uthethe ngomba wokulungisa. Nathi asiyiginyi kamnandi, kodwa siyavumelana kuba sisigqibo esincedisayo ukulungisa ezi zindlu. Ngoko ke siyavuma ukuba uMphathiswa aqhubeke azilungise ezi zindlu. Siye sahlala namaphondo sixoxa, savumelana ukuba inkqubo iyahamba iya phambili.
Okwesibini ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[... the hon Minister has talked about the issue of renovation. We are also not really happy, but we have agreed because it is a decision that helps us with regard to the renovation of these houses. Therefore, we agree that the hon Minister goes ahead and renovates these houses. We have met with the provinces and we have agreed that the programme must continue.
Secondly ...]
... the challenge facing the human settlements sector is inadequate intergovernmental co-ordination for accelerated housing delivery.
Yingxaki enkulu leyo. Sihambile saya kumaphondo. Siyibonile ukuba iyingxaki le nto. Amaphondo awathethi noomasipala, oomasipala beengingqi abathethi noomasipala basemakhaya. Yeyona ngxaki esithe sathi xa sihlala phantsi noMphathiswa saxoxa ngayo. Kodwa ke kukho izivumelwano zokuziswa kweenkonzo ezityikityiweyo phakathi koMphathiswa nesebe, njengoko sele sitshilo ukuba liyintsika. Zityikityiwe ke ezi zivumelwano. Simcelile uMphathiswa ukuba azizise xa sibuya kweyeSilimela. Sifuna ukuzijonga ukuba zithini na size sikwazi ukuba siwongamele lo mba wokusebenzisana koorhulumente.
Enye ingxaki yeyokuba ziyathengiswa izindlu. Phaya emakhaya siyabacela ukuba mabangazithengisi izindlu abazinikwe ngurhulumente. Njengokuba sele etshilo uMphathiswa, siyamxhasa xa esithi aba bathengisa izindlu mabavalelwe kwesimnyama isisele bangaze baphume. Bahlale apho umlibe... [Kwaqhwatywa.]... ngoba ayikho into yokuba athi urhulumente ezama ukuthi kule ntwana anayo ayabele bonke abantu, kubekho abantu abadlala ngemali yakhe. Mabavalelwe.
Enye into esibone ukuba iyingxaki yile nto yokungalungelelani kwezinto eziluncedo zoqoqosho nentlalo. Sesivile ukuba uMphathiswa uzityikityile izivumelwano zokuzisa iinkonzo nabanye abaPhathiswa.
Enye ingxelo esinayo yeyokuba kukho le nto ibithethwa nguMongameli yookopolotyeni ukuba mabahambele phambili. Sinenkqubo ke ekuthiwa yi-PHP. Asaneli ke thina siyikomiti. Sithi le PHP siyayamkela, kodwa ookopolotyeni mabaqhubekele phambili nabo. Sicela uMphathiswa azise umgaqo-nkqubo wookopolotyeni, sikwazi ukuwujonga ze siqhubeke sibheke phambili. Ukuba uyakwazi ukuxoxisana noMphathiswa wakwa-DTI makababuyise ookopolotyeni bezindlu size sikwazi ukuba sibalawule. Siwubuyisile umthetho woxwebhu ngelungelo lobunini besahlulo somhlaba. Sicela uMphathiswa alande ookopolotyeni bezindlu sibongamele ngokwethu apha kweli sebe.
Enye ingxakana esithe sayibona, uMphathiswa asele eyithethile, yindlela amaphondo ayichitha ngayo imali. Isiphethe kakubi kakhulu le nto, kodwa ke siyacenga asiyekelelanga, kwaye noMphathiswa uyasizama, uyasincedisa. Uthi mabeze kuxela, kwaye bayaxela.
Okubalulekileyo, xa ndiqukumbela ndiyivala le ngxoxo, kukuba ukuhlaliswa koluntu kudlala indima ebalulekileyo nasekuqinisekiseni ukuba uhlahlo- lwabiwo-mali ludlala indima ebalulekileyo ekuphakamiseni iinjongo zopolitiko ze-ANC ekuphuculweni kweemeko zasekuhlaleni. Oku kuqulethwe kwisiseko sokubaluleka kohlahlo-lwabiwo-mali nokusetyenziswa kwezibonelo eziya kuphuhlisa ziphumeze iinkqubo zexesha elide nelifutshane zeenjongo zikarhulumente okhokelwa yi-ANC.
Okubalulekileyo apha kukuba isebe lisekela khona iziphakamiso zalo xa bekuqwalaselwe uxanduva lwazo zonke iziphumo zokufanelekileyo nokuziinjongo zopolitiko. Oku kubalulekile xa kuthelekiswa neenjongo eziphambili zomgaqo- nkqubo oya kusetyenziswa kwithuba elifutshane nelide elijonge ukuzalisekisa iinjongo zorhulumente okhokelwa ngumbutho wabantu.
Mgcinisihlalo, nawe Mphathiswa, Mnu Sexwale, sincoma ubunkokheli benu noSekela Mphathiswa uNksz Zoe Kota, uMnu T Zulu, umlawuli-jikelele kwisebe, amaphondo nazo zonke izakhiwo eziqhuba iintlelo zokwakhiwa kwamakhaya ngentsebenziswano. Sinethemba lokuba oomasipala abathe baxhamla kolu hlahlo- lwabiwo-mali baza kusebenza nzima. UMongameli uthethile, sonke siyajayiva. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[That is a big problem. We went to the provinces. We saw that this is a problem. The provinces are not communicating with the municipalities, and the district municipalities are not communicating with local municipalities. This is a major problem that we discussed when we had a meeting with the hon Minister. However, there are service delivery agreements that have been signed between the hon Minister and the department, and as we have said, it is the pillar. These agreements have been signed. We have asked the hon Minister to bring them when we come back in June. We want to scrutinise them so that we know how to manage this issue of cooperation within the different spheres of government.
Another problem is that the houses are being sold. We are pleading with all at home not to sell the houses that have been subsidised by the government. We support the hon Minister when he says that those who sell the houses must be arrested and incarcerated without the possibility of parole. They must be incarcerated for life ... [Applause.] ... because it is not right when the government shares the small budget that it has with everyone, only to find out that there are people who misuse the money. They must be arrested and incarcerated.
Another thing that we see as a problem is the lack of balance in respect of socio-economic resources. We've heard that the hon Minister has signed service delivery agreements with some Ministers.
Another report we have reflects what was said by the hon President and that is that cooperatives must continue to operate and be progressive. We have a programme called the PHP. We, as a committee, are not satisfied with this programme. However, we welcome the PHP, but cooperatives must also continue to operate. We request the hon Minister to introduce a policy that governs the functioning of cooperatives, so that we can scrutinise it and take it forward. He should negotiate with the hon Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry to bring back the housing cooperatives so that we can monitor and control them. We have reinstated the law governing sectional title ownership. We request the hon Minister to bring cooperatives back so that we can monitor and control them in this department.
Another little problem that we have observed, which the hon Minister has already mentioned, is the manner in which the provinces utilise the budget. This makes us unhappy, but we haven't stopped pleading; even the hon Minister is trying to help us. He says they must come and report and they do.
The most important thing, as I conclude this discussion, is that the Department of Human Settlements plays a vital role in ensuring that the budget plays its vital role in raising the ANC's political aims in improving conditions in the community. This is contained in the basic importance of the budget and the implementation of subsidies which will develop and achieve the long and short-term goals of the ANC-led government.
What is important here is that which the department based its recommendations on, after considering the responsibility of the suitable achievements which are also its political aims. This is important when it is compared to the key objectives of the policy that will be used in the short and long term to fulfil the goals of the government led by the people.
Hon Chairperson, and hon Minister, Mr Sexwale, we commend your leadership together with that of the hon Deputy Minister, Ms Zoe Kota, Mr T Zulu, the Director-General of the Department of Human Settlements, the provinces and all the institutions involved in the various programmes of building homes with cooperation. We hope that the municipalities which have benefited from this budget will work hard. The President has spoken, and we are all dancing. Thank you. [Applause.]]