Question NW2610 to the Minister of Human Settlements
05 December 2016 - NW2610
Gqada, Ms T to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(a) How many government-subsidised houses that were built in each of the past five financial years remain (i) unoccupied and (ii) partially unoccupied in each province, (b) how long has each of the specified houses been unoccupied and partially unoccupied in each case, (c) why are the houses unoccupied and partially unoccupied, (d) how much did it cost to build the houses and (e) what plans have been put in place to address the nonoccupation of the houses?
Reply:
The Provincial Departments of Human Settlements provided information as follows:
|
Number of houses built 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2016 |
Number of houses Unoccupied |
Number of houses Partially occupied |
Period unoccupied/ partially unoccupied |
|
|
EC |
73 207 |
258 |
None |
Verification is being conducted |
|
FS |
34 135 |
The Provincial Department is in the process of procuring a service provider to conduct an occupancy audit to determine amongst other the occupancy rate |
Verification is being conducted |
Verification is being conducted |
|
GP |
100 223 |
Verification is being conducted |
Verification is being conducted |
Verification is being conducted |
|
KZN |
140 739 |
None |
Verification is being conducted |
Verification is being conducted |
|
LP |
45 028 |
377 |
0 |
Not available |
|
MP |
42 562 |
924 |
0 |
1 year |
|
NC |
13 356 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
NW |
65 081 |
After completion the structure is the responsibility of the Municipality so the Provincial Human Settlements Department does not have any numbers in this regard |
Verification is being conducted |
Verification is being conducted |
|
WC |
60 082 |
None |
None |
None |
(c)
|
Province |
Why are houses unoccupied or partially unoccupied? |
|
EC |
Due to the unavailability of approved beneficiaries |
|
FS |
Verification is being conducted |
|
GP |
Not available |
|
KZN |
Not applicable |
|
LP |
Due to the unavailability of the approve beneficiaries |
|
MP |
The Lekwa and Mbombela Municipalities are struggling with the provision of bulk (sewer and water) infrastructure |
|
NC |
Not applicable |
|
NW |
Not applicable |
|
WC |
Not applicable |
(d)
|
Province |
Cost to build houses |
|
EC |
R42.5 million |
|
FS |
Verification is being conducted |
|
GP |
Verification is being conducted |
|
KZN |
Verification is being conducted |
|
LP |
Verification is being conducted |
|
MP |
R 93 million has been spent to build the 924 houses |
|
NC |
All houses are built according to the subsidy quantum band approved for that specific financial year |
|
NW |
Not applicable |
|
WC |
Not applicable |
(e)
|
Province |
Plans to address non-occupation |
|
EC |
Names of beneficiaries will be advertised in local media and if still unavailable, the beneficiaries will be deregistered on HSS and replace with beneficiaries from destitute list |
|
FS |
The department is in the process of procuring a Service Provider to conduct an occupancy audit in the Province. |
|
GP |
Not available |
|
KZN |
Not applicable |
|
LP |
The Provincial Human Settlements Department is using Ward Committees to trace beneficiaries and advertise in the print media calling beneficiary to claim their house. |
|
MP |
The Department has timeously been working with the respective Municipalities to resolve the matter of bulk infrastructure. The Department made R 9 million available from their equitable share to assist Lekwa Municipality with the construction of two sewer pump stations to address the bulk sewer problem in Standerton Ext 8. In terms of the Mbombela Municipality the Department has transferred R 80 million from the equitable share to deal with the bulk issues in Thekwane North and other integrated human settlement projects. |
|
NC |
At completion of a house the contractor hands the house over to the beneficiary who then signs a happy letter with occupation |
|
NW |
Not applicable |
|
WC |
Not applicable |