Question NW958 to the Minister of Human Settlements
17 April 2023 - NW958
Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
Whether her department has been informed of the lack of coordination that will inadvertently delay projects and negatively undermine the good intentions of the projects, as is the case with a housing project along the Ladysmith/Zakheni main road in northern KwaZulu-Natal that has been stalled for over a decade, with planning for the project, whose estimated yield is 504 units, having begun in 2012, with bulk infrastructure delays as well as poor cohesion between the KwaZulu-Natal provincial department of Human Settlements and the uThukela District Municipality having been highlighted as the reasons for the stalling of the multi-million rand housing project; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how can her department use the steps of the National Unblocking Programme Plan to revitalise the specified project?
Reply:
The uThukela District Municipality had originally committed to supporting the housing project through the provision of bulk infrastructure, which allowed the Provincial Department of Human Settlements to proceed with the implementation of the housing project.
During the 2020/2021 financial year, however the uThukela District Municipality indicated it was no longer be in a position to honour its commitment. The district further requested that the Provincial Department of Human Settlements fund the bulk infrastructure.
The Provincial Department of Human Settlements is currently implementing the required bulk infrastructure, which is part of the District’s function.
The Provincial Department will complete the houses for beneficiaries to occupy.