MINISTRY HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 2239
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 31 OCTOBER 2014
Mr S M Gana (DA) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements:
(1) How many hostel upgrade projects has her department embarked on since
1 January 2009;
(2) (a) how many projects have been completed in each province, (b) what
are the names of the hostels and (c) where are they situated;
(3) how many of the completed units (a) have been legally occupied and
(b) remain unoccupied;
(4) what steps are being taken to ensure the completed units are handed
over to recipients;
(5) (a) how many of the projects remain incomplete and (b) when will each
project be completed?
NW2783E
REPLY
The National Hostels Redevelopment Programme became dysfunctional when it
was replaced by the Community Residential Units (CRU) Programme in December
2006. The main difference between the two programmes is the CRU programme
does not comprise of a pre-emptive right i.e.: A CRU Unit cannot be
purchased for individual ownership as was the case with the Hostel
Redevelopment Programme. These exclusively rental units will remain in the
ownership of the provincial department or the municipality. The CRU
programme also caters for a maintenance option to preserve the buildings
every five years after construction and redevelopment so as to curb the
constant decrepitude that plagued hostels around the country. This
programme encompasses eight development options to deal with public owned
buildings and although it covers the redevelopment of hostels, it is not
limited to such. Most Community Residential Unit developments are completed
over a period spanning over three to four financial years, hence some
projects comprise of different phases i.e.: phase 1 to 4 or more depending
on the size of the development and the option chosen.
Although all Provincial Human Settlement Departments are currently
implementing the CRU programme, not all have embarked on redeveloping
hostels. As per the question, information on provinces who have upgraded
hostels will be provided.
The Department has embarked on a total of forty five (45) hostel upgrading
projects countrywide since 1 January 2009.
The information requested by the Honourable member is provided in the table
below:
|Province |Number of projects completed |
| | |
|North West |No hostel upgrading projects have been implemented to date. |
|Province | |
| | |
|Eastern |No hostel upgrading projects have been implemented to date. |
|Cape | |
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