Question NW2914 to the Minister of Human Settlements
13 October 2022 - NW2914
Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(1) With reference to the State of the Cities Report released earlier this year by the South African Cities Network, which indicates that 1 in 5 people in Johannesburg and Cape Town live in Informal settlements, and in my view of the fact that Cabinet has approved just over 14 000 hectares made up of 167 portions of land held by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for release for human settlements development and the portions of land will be held by the Housing Development Agency, while the programme is aimed at providing the poor and marginalised access to land in urban areas. (a) What criteria will be used to allocate land, (b) on what date is it envisaged within this current financial year that the reported 7000 hectors of land will be released and (c) what plans does the Government have in place to ensure delivery of services to those who settle on the land?
Reply:
(1)(a) The identified and targeted land parcels are required for the implementation of various key human settlements programmes which include upgrading of informal settlements, rural housing programme, social housing, integrated residential development programme, title restoration programme (tenure upgrading) and the finance-linked individual subsidy programme. The respective programmes, therefore provide for criteria for allocation of completed units with preference being given to local qualifying beneficiaries residing within the specific localities where the projects are located.
The generic qualification criteria for housing subsidy and therefore land allocation are the following:
- A lawful resident of South Africa or in possession of permanent residence status.
- Legally competent to contract.
- Not yet benefited from government housing assistance.
- Married or cohabiting.
- Single with financial dependents, must reside permanently with the applicant.
- Single persons without financial dependents – apply for purchase of a vacant serviced site or rental accommodation.
- Monthly household income (proof of income required), R0 – R3500 for a full housing subsidy, R3501 – R 22 000 for a partial subsidy known as Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP).
(1)(b) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has already released 2491 hectares of land located in all nine provinces and seventeen municipalities for human settlements development purposes.
DPWI targets to conclude the release of over 7000 hectares of land for human settlements by the end of the current financial year. Additional land parcels have also in the meantime been identified by various municipalities for human settlements development including emergency housing
(1)(c) The Housing Development Agency works with the respective municipalities and the provinces to ensure joint development planning of the released land parcels. This includes coordination and monitoring of infrastructure planning and budgeting for the required services to support human settlements projects.