Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, the strategy and performance plan for 2008-11 appears to be a well-prepared document intended to deliver houses to the people, but this is only on paper.
Umba wentlalo yoluntu wande kakhulu. Ngokokwam ukwazi, lo mba uthetha izindlu, izibhedlele, iiklinikhi, iivenkile kwakunye nezikolo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[The issue of human settlement is an extensive one. According to my knowledge, it includes houses, hospitals, clinics, shops and schools.]
The question of the illegal occupation of land is a cause for concern, as this problem continues unabated. The Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, Act 19 of 1998, does not properly address the serious illegal occupation of land, which is seriously hampering government in delivering services.
I understand that the government is working with private and public sector service providers for the provision of houses. We continue to see people being evicted from houses that are privately owned. What is the government doing to assist people who are being evicted? What alternative or mechanism do we have in place to cater for those people? After being evicted, where do they go? Some move to informal settlements and live there for years, and again elongate the list of those who are already on the waiting list.
Hon Minister, in light of the current global economic meltdown, it appears unlikely that the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework target of R18,4 billion budget for 2011-12 will be a reality. One therefore has to question the as yet undetermined costs associated with the name change. Surely, the outcome we are all looking for can be achieved irrespective of what the Ministry is called.
This brings me to the proposed expenditure on particular line items in the budget before us. All over the world companies and businesses are looking at ways to reduce unnecessary spending. I therefore find it unacceptable that this budget shows significant growth for items such as subsistence and travel. In programme one, there is an 83% increment in normal terms, from R14,1 million to R26 million, in this item. However, this is probably understandable in light of the appointment of a new Deputy Minister, but there is no plausible reason why there is an increase of 102%, from R5,1 million to R10,3 million, and 144%, from R10,2 million to R24,9 million, respectively, in programmes two and three, in this line item. This naturally will have an equal increased negative effect on the department's carbon footprint - something the director-general has assured my colleagues will be addressed. The department will start to offset its carbon footprint, planting a tree with every future house built.
Enye into ekufuneka iqwalaselwe ngokumandla ngabaniki-zinkonzo, kuba ngaphandle kweliso likarhulumente, abantu bathi gqolo besitya imali yabarhafi kakubi; ube umgangatho wezindlu ungenguwo.
Kukho umba wabanxusi. Kwesi sicwangciso sikarhulumente awuchatshazelwa, kuba abantu abakuluhlu lukarhulumente akuthethwa nto icacileyo ngabo, kwaye basalinde ukuza kukaNxele. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Another challenge that needs to be attended to is the issue of service providers, because without monitoring and oversight by the government people continue to misappropriate the tax payers' money, whilst the quality of the houses built is poor.
There is also the question of refugees. There is no reference to it in the government's strategic plan, because nothing is being said with regard to people who are on the government's waiting list and they are still waiting in vain.]
I am not sure about the internal audit report system. I am saying this because if it was effective we should not be having fraud cases as they stand.
The Department of Human Settlements needs to stick to the principle of people first. I hope the hon Minister will deal effectively with officials' conflicts of interest.
I am worried about the problem of title deeds. People still have no titles for their houses, thus making it difficult for them to access formal houses. This problem has not been sorted out. What is the hon Minister's plan to change this backlog? I thank you. [Applause.]