Question NW2868 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
18 December 2020 - NW2868
Ngwezi, Mr X to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)What progress has been made with the distribution of the R600 million that formed part of her department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic that was allocated as rental relief to tenants occupying affordable housing, in order to assist tenants to meet their monthly rental obligations; (2) what are the relevant details of (a) the selection criteria, including the means test, that were utilised to determine who was eligible for the specified funds, (b) how the specified budget has been spent and (c) the number of tenants who have been allocated at each (i) provincial and (ii) municipal level?
Reply:
(1) The South African Government remains committed to providing support to the persons and households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has introduced a number of measures including the declaration of a state of disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2002, to support households affected by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with specific reference to persons and/or households renting accommodation. The intent of the Residential Rent Relief Scheme (RRS) is to provide temporary financial relief for residential low-income tenants and landlords in circumstances where tenants have been unable and are unable to meet their rental obligations as a consequence of financial distress associated with the COVID-19 lockdown. While the assistance is targeted to the tenant, a landlord will receive a secondary benefit in the form of security of income.
(2)(a) Funds should benefit all the tenants occupying affordable rental housing whether in the unsubsidized and state subsidized rental sectors.
(b) No funds have been used to date.
(c) No allocations have been made to date. A detailed policy framework for the Residential Rent Relief Scheme Programme is currently being developed by the National Department of Human which will provide guidelines.