Question NW822 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
04 October 2019 - NW822
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)Whether her department has put any plans in place to assist the City of Ekurhuleni to renovate its rental stock from the dilapidated state in order to be safe for tenants; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she has found that tenants are able to pay market-related rental rates for the City of Ekurhuleni’s rental stock even if they cannot afford to put food on the table or pay school fees; if not, whether she will investigate the practice; (3) whether her department has put any mechanism in place to ensure that municipalities provide safe and decent living conditions to tenants through rental stock; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) Yes, the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) has a Social Housing and Community Residential Units (CRU) Policy in place. The Social Housing Programme is implemented by the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA). The CRU programme is implemented by Provinces. Over and above, the NDHS provides grant funding to provinces for the redevelopment and renovations of hostels.
(2) The Ekurhuleni Housing Company is a Municipal Owned Entity mandated with the management of the rental stock/property on behalf of the City of Ekurhuleni. The Ekurhuleni Housing Company's rental stock is managed under the auspices of the Social Housing Act, specifically targeted at individuals and households who meet the Social Housing criteria. Prospective tenants are subjected to a rigorous application process to select the right qualifying beneficiaries before approval of the application.
(3) The provision of security, cleaning and maintenance services fall within the mandate of the municipalities that own the rental properties. Where a Municipality has appointed an agent to manage the rental property on its behalf, the agent will take responsibility for the provision of secured and decent living conditions to tenants.