Question NW1041 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
15 June 2020 - NW1041
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What progress has her department made in (a) developing a policy framework on social and rental interventions and (b) the establishment of a Human Settlements Bank?
Reply:
(a) The Department of Human Settlements in collaboration with the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) commenced with a process to develop a policy framework on rental and social housing interventions as guided by the National Rental Housing Act (1999), the Social Housing Act (2008) and the Rental Amendment Act of (2014).
This work is aimed at addressing all other forms of rental such as backyard, private rental, large and small scale rental.
It is anticipated that the final draft of the policy framework will be concluded during the 2020/21 financial year after conducting a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) via the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME).
(b) The operating business model of the Human Settlements Development Bank (HSDB) has already been concluded and approved by National Treasury.
The consolidation of National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency (NURCHA) and the Rural Housing Loan Fund (RHLF) into the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) was finalized in October 2018, following the formal approval of the merger by MinMEC and National Treasury.
The Human Settlements Development Bank Bill is amongst the apex priorities of the Departmental 2020 Legislative Program that has been submitted to office of the Leader of Government Business.
The Office of the State Law Advisor has already been consulted on the contents of the draft HSDB Bill and a process is underway to incorporate the comments received for consideration by Cabinet. Once Cabinet approve the Bill, the next step would be to table it in Parliament for processing.