Question NW2082 to the Minister of Human Settlements
17 July 2023 - NW2082
Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
Considering that the department allocated R111 million for the development of informal settlements in Cape Town alone for the relocation of residents living along the city’s central line tracks, and in view of the Housing Development Agency (HDA) pointing fingers at the City of Cape Town for delaying the relocation of vulnerable and impoverished persons who find themselves having to dwell in the makeshift unsafe and unsanitary shelters, whilst the City of Cape Town claims it is awaiting direction from the HDA and that funds were distributed late, what is her department doing to ensure that the (a) R111 million it allocated is indeed used for the development of informal settlements (b) City of Cape Town is held responsible for its slow pace and apparent disinterest in attending to the matter at the expense of the poor and (c) matter is resolved timeously as winter is approaching while the vulnerable and poor persons find themselves..homeless?
Reply:
The City of Cape Town was allocated R111 Million in March 2023, with the intention to relocate 16 informal settlements that are currently on unsafe land that is prone to flood disasters and those that are residing on the PRASA line in Khayelitsha.
- A stakeholder meeting between the National Department of Human Settlements: Informal Settlements & Emergency Housing branch (NDHS); Western Cape Department of Human Settlements (WCDHS), Housing Development Agency (HDA) and the City of Cape Town on the 22nd of May 2023 to deliberate on the progress of this relocation process and the challenges thereof. It was then reported to the meeting that the HDA has proactively procured two land parcels that at a cost of R72 Million, with the intention of fast-tracking the relocation process. However, the challenge is that the City of Cape Town doesn’t have a funding agreement with HDA that will enable the municipality to transfer funds to HDA for the land parcels and to be the implementing agent for the provision of basic services. Therefore, it was then resolved from this meeting that an urgent meeting between NDHS, National Treasury (NT) and City of Cape Town (CCT) to conclude on the most legally viable approach to resolving this matter, which might warrant a possible rollover of funds considering the 30th of June 2023 end of the financial year.
- During the 2023 Budget vote the Minister pronounced that the HDA has been appointed as the implementing agent for upgrading all informal settlements in City of Cape Town, as a strategy to improve the pace.
- A follow-up meeting between NDHS, NT, WCDHS and CoCT will be convened before the end of July, to conclude the financial and non-financial implementation plan for this project and a final report will be submitted to the Minister of Human Settlements for consideration and approval.