Question NW1523 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
02 December 2019 - NW1523
Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What (a) impact has the current drought across various areas of the Republic had on the ability of the provinces to deliver on their approved human settlement business plans and (b) plans are in place to ensure provinces deliver on their approved human settlement business plans?
Reply:
a) Thus far the full impact of the prevailing drought has not yet been felt on the human settlements delivery value chain nor on the approved human settlement business plans of provinces.
The National Department of Human Settlements has approved nine (9) Provincial Plans for the 2019/20 financial year to the value of R18 779 815 billion. These plans will yield over 140 000 new housing opportunities (units and sites).
The Department recognises that South Africa has limited and erratic rainfall and is essentially a dry and drought-prone country. To mitigate this risk, the Department has Technical Guidelines for the Construction of Stand Alone Residential Dwellings Financed through National Housing Programmes (Housing Code, 2009), which details amongst others Design Considerations for Efficient Water Systems in Low Cost Housing; and the use of Water Saving Devices and Technologies.
In the rural areas, beneficiaries of new state subsidised houses are provided with rain water harvesting system consisting of a 2 500 litre water tank to mitigate water shortages and drought conditions.
Furthermore, the Department of Water and Sanitation is embarking on various measures to educate water users and businesses at large to work with government to reduce water usage and save as much water as possible.
Other interventions being implemented includes desalination, groundwater optimisation, water conservation and demand management, and re-use optimisation.
Where necessary, water restrictions are being implemented by various municipalities across the country to ensure that there is reduced water consumption and that taps do not run dry.
(b) In view of the fact that the current drought conditions have not had effect on the implementation of the human settlements development plans, there is no need, at this stage, for drought related measures to mitigate the delivery of the approved human settlement business plans.