Question NW441 to the Minister of Human Settlements
04 May 2016 - NW441
Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(1)Whether the national and provincial departments responsible for advancing the goals and objectives of her department have consistently used their budget allocations fully for the period 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2016, to attain predetermined and costed targets; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether any disciplinary action was taken against any officials for not meeting the specified targets and not utilising the approved allocation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the present model of providing free houses is sustainable over the coming decade; if not, how is the model going to be amended or altered; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The National Department of Human Settlements has over a period of three (3) years ending 2014/15 spent approximately 96% of the grant allocation of R50,288 billion with 79% spent in 2015/16 financial year and as at 29 February 2016 (unaudited figure), the latter has to date yielded 114 536 housing opportunities.
The information requested by the Honourable member is contained in the table below:
|
Financial Periods |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
2015/16 |
|
Serviced Sites |
45 698 |
48 193 |
49 345 |
36 956 |
|
Units |
115 079 |
105 936 |
94 566 |
77 580 |
|
Total |
160 777 |
154 129 |
143 911 |
114 536 |
|
Total Available funds |
15 886 226 |
17 028 326 |
17 374 021 |
18 581 067 |
|
Expenditure |
15 142 431 |
16 500 648 |
16 972 848 |
14 703 012 |
|
% Exp. |
95.32% |
96.90% |
97.69% |
79.13% As at 29 February 2016 (unaudited figure) |
The National Department of Human Settlements has over a period of three (3) years ending 2014/15 spent approximately 96% of the grant allocation of R50,288 billion with 79% spent in 2015/16 financial year and as at 28 February 2016, the latter has to date yielded 114 536 housing opportunities.
(2) It is important to note that the National Department of Human Settlements transfers the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) to provinces who in turn use the grant to develop sites and houses. The National Department uses Division of Revenue Act (DORA) provisions to redirect funding from underperforming to performing provinces. In addition, the department assist underperforming provinces by putting remedial actions on challenges that hamper or affect the meeting of goals and objectives of provinces. Therefore, the national Department does not have authority in terms of the Public Service Act, 1994 to discipline official in another sphere of government.
In terms of the National Department meeting its targets and objectives, the Department uses the performance appraisal system as a tool to monitor the performance of officials.
(3) Honourable member, it not possible to indicate what the details of any policy revisions and/or proposals for amendments will be at this stage. My Department is currently in the consultation phase of the development of the new Human Settlements White Paper process. In this process, we are revisiting all the core fundamental principles of the current policy including the sustainability of the Housing Subsidy Scheme in its current form. Once approved by MINMEC, the draft document will be submitted to Cabinet for approval to publish the Paper for broader public comments.