Question NW2070 to the Minister of Human Settlements

Reply:

(a)(aa) In its endeavour to ensure the professionalization of the human settlements sector, the National Department of Human Settlements has partnered with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), to enhance the capacity of the sector to deliver sustainable human settlements. The department funded the establishment of the Chair for Education in Human Settlements Development Management at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and the Chair for Research in Human Settlements at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)

The aforementioned Chairs established in the two universities are responsible for the following functions, amongst others:

• Conducting of research in human settlements to inform policy and programmes development, as well as informing relevant solutions to deal with the housing challenge;
• Development and teaching of human settlements qualifications to enhance the availability of requisite skills in the human settlements sector.
• Providing a consultation service and advice to the Department in support of its capacity building and professionalization endeavours;
• Providing training in the form of Short Learning Programmes, workshops and seminars, ensuring transfer of skills to public officials;
• Conducting skills audits and analyses that align with the human settlements education and capacity development strategy of the Department; and
• Providing solutions to problems faced by the government, CBOs, communities, and NGOs relating to human settlements.

Further, the National Department of Human Settlements has in February 2015 appointed the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to revise and update the Guidelines for Human Settlements Planning and Design, commonly referred to as the Red Book. The guidelines review project is implemented over three years and is scheduled for completion by the end of the 2017/18 financial year.

The review was necessitated by substantial shifts in policy, priorities, values and the understanding of human settlements that have occurred globally as well as in South Africa in the 15 years since publication of the previous version of guidelines.

The purpose of the guidelines is to specify the Built Environment performance qualities that should be sought in South African settlements, and to provide practical guidance to users on how these qualities can be practically implemented to create sustainable human settlements.

(bb) The amount paid to the two universities are as tabulated below:

University	Period	Funding amount
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)	2013/14 To 2015/16	R11, 538, 000, 00
Mangosuthu University Of Technology (MUT)	2016/17	R3, 500, 000, 00
Total Amount Paid To Universities	R15, 038, 000, 00

The total amount contracted for the revision of the guidelines, is R19 932 574.00 (Vat included) and is paid in tranches in line with quarterly deliverables. To date R10 702 775.74 has been transferred to the CSIR for work completed.

(b) Entities reporting to the Minister

Of the eight entities reporting to me, it is only the National Housing Finance Corporation that is funding an institution.

(bb) The details of the funding arrangements are provided below:

Domestically / Internationally	Name Of The Institution	Function	Date	Amount
(i) Domestically	Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF)	Strategic partnership with research specialist in the field of affordable housing to capacitate and strengthen research capability.	2014 - 2017	R3 424 243
(ii) Internationally	None	None	None	None