1 April 2020
As the 2020/21 financial year commence, my Department’s budget of just over R 2,4-billion has one sole purpose, and that is to improve the lives of our people.
This budget will allow us to deliver 17 235 housing opportunities, which consists of 7 343 serviced sites and 9 892 units. The allocation of R 67,9-million enables us to transfer 7 000 Title Deeds.
Since taking office at the end of May 2019, I’ve committed to three key drivers. They are:
I’m also pleased to announce that we have added a fourth key driver, which is: Radical Empowerment and Job Creation.
For this reason, we will continue to use 50% of our Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) to empower contractors from all targeted groups including women and youth. Utilising the EPWP-programme, 800 job opportunities will be created.
Safety is another key priority and it is for this reason, we shall endeavour to ensure that the 25 human settlement developments that will commence in 2020/21 have stoeps, social amenities and public spaces to enable residence to engage in meaningful and purposeful activities. This also includes adequate street lighting with specific reference to areas identified as crime hot spots.
As part of our radical implementation of innovative solutions, on 23 March 2020 we launched our WCGServices App, so that our citizens can easily access information on government housing assistance, register for the first time or update their details. One of the biggest advantages of the App, is its assistance in efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, as potential beneficiaries would no longer have to visit a housing office to be assisted. From now on they’ll be able to do so in the comfort of their own home, thus ensuring social distance.
An essential Human Settlements service is still being delivered, even though we’re in the 21-day lockdown period.
During the 20/21 financial year, we’ll also introduce our Housing Voucher Scheme, to assist those in our Credit Readiness Programme. They will be pre-screened on the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) to verify Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) subsidy eligibility.
I’d also like to use this opportunity to remind all citizens about FLISP, which is a housing subsidy for first-time home buyers. This is to assist with the purchasing of a home, for those with a household income of R 3 501 – R 22000.
Further to this we are also looking forward to the construction of student accommodation at the Belhar CBD project, which will commence this year. It is envisaged that this will yield 2 000 opportunities.
In an effort to address the apartheid spatial planning legacy, well-located affordable housing has been designated as a priority across various parts of the Province. To this end, the Glenhaven Social Housing development in Bellville whose first two blocks, which comprise of 150 units, will be completed and tenanted in April 2020, with a further 266 units by July 2020.
It is anticipated that the Regent Villa’s Project in Mitchell’s Plain, will have 104 tenants between now and July 2020. The Pine Road Social Housing project, located in Woodstock, will be going to site in the third quarter of 2020, while the Goodwood Station development, where 1 055 units are expected, will also commence later in the year.
In fact, over the next ten years, plans are afoot to implement approximately 82 potential projects. This entails approximately 22 000 units in areas such as Salt River, the Artscape/Founders Garden and Helen Bowden/Somerset Hospital Initiatives.
We are also looking forward to partnering with the Cape Agulhas Municipality who presented their rent-to-own concept to us. R 10-million has been availed for this initiative.
Due to the current lockdown period, we do foresee various delays across our projects, however, as the Western Cape Government, we will continue to create and find opportunities to enrich the lives of our people. We remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.”
Marcellino Martin
Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers
Tel: 021 483 3397
Mobile: 082 721 3362
Email: Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za