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Interviews between Mbulelo Linda and Adrianne Carlisle of the Daily Dispatch
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Housing and Local Government

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MEDIA RELEASE
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 15 NOVEMBER 2000

INTERVIEW BETWEEN MBULELO LINDA (ML)  AND ADRIENNE CARLISLE (AC) OF DAILY DISPATCH

AC: What is the Rapid Land Development Programme?

ML: In acknowledging priorities of the Government of the day, to include a programmatic approach to poverty alleviation, as well as 
building of the national economy, Housing, Local Government and traditional Affairs MEC Gugile Nkwinti has initiated the re-sequencing of 
the Provincial housing delivery protocol.

This translates practically into an emphasis in all housing delivery projects on:

* Job creation
* Skills development and
* A satisfactory product  minimum of 40m

The MEC has introduced an impact intensive phased housing programme that will disaggregate the existing project-linked housing subsidy 
scheme into two distinct phases over the current and next financial year.

The first phase provides beneficiaries with secure tenure rights and infrastructure in a planned manner. The second phase provides for the 
provision of top structures to be funded in ensuing financial years.

Furthermore, established contractors have been engaged with a view of the establishment of partnerships between the established and 
emerging contractors.

The MEC through the Department has been in contact with the Department of Labour with a view to access funds for training emerging 
contractors. It is critical for the success of this initiative that the Department and the municipality must reach a common understanding 
of the need for building this partnership.

It is envisaged that this strategic partnership will lead to increased service delivery as well as address the main thrusts of the 
provincial re-sequenced housing delivery protocol mentioned here above.

The Rapid Land Development Programme has therefore identified three key strategic thrusts namely:

* Building of strategic partnerships
* Building of serviced stock within the programme of this initiative
* Effective planning aimed at fast tracking services delivery.

Within these strategic identified areas, the Department views the Rapid Land Development Programme (RLDP) as an intervention based on the 
state of readiness of various projects within the Province. Aspects considered include availability of land, accessibility of bulk 
infrastructure and services, to name but a few.

The equitable distribution of projects has been a key focus of the MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs and this 
equity principle is clearly reflected in the existing contractual commitments of the Dept. (R229 million for the current financial year).

The MEC through the Department has worked tirelessly on enabling these delivery processes to run smoothly through inter alia the 
facilitation of land release from the National Department of Land Affairs, the implementation of the Development Facilitation Act, Act 67 
of 1995, as well as the promulgation of the Provincial State Land Disposal Act. These efforts have paid off and are reflected in the 
delivery of houses as mentioned here above.

While favouring an equitable distribution of projects, the RLDP has to take cognisance of various challenges that prevail affecting 
delivery.

Reality prevails and specifically in relation to the landholding patterns in the former Transkei and former Ciskei areas, it must be 
acknowledged that the Department is largely operating in a non-development friendly environment.

Large tracts of developable land are still tied up in legal complexities relating to not only land ownership, but also land use management. 
These challenges are being addressed, but innovative solutions are time consuming and therefore not conducive to rapid delivery strategies.

The RLDP should be seen as one of a package of strategic interventions introduced by the MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional 
Affairs with a specific aim of ensuring accelerated service delivery to the communities we serve.It is not the first and will not be the 
last and will be enhanced through a variety of other impact-focused programmes during the current and next financial years.

AC:What sort of delays are we experiencing in housing development in this province?

The most critical problems experienced can be attributed, but are not limited to:

* Complexities emerging at local level during the implementation of the agreed project specifications.
* Failure of some developers to honour contractual commitments, including performance in terms of projected expenditure.

Budget detail

* Available budget 2000/2001= R 520 m
* Expenditure as at 31/10/2000= R 138m
* Commitments (remainder of year)= R 282m
* Rapid land release programme= R 100m

Provincial norms versus National norms

The emerging contractors have proved beyond doubt that they can provide a top structure that meets the provincial norm. The emerging 
contractors have erected more than 12 000 houses to date. This clearly demonstrates that they have the capacity and capability to 
contribute meaningfully towards housing delivery. Established developers on the contrary are welcoming the new partnership building 
initiative and have already confirmed their support in respect of the rapid land release programme.

The provincial norms are:

* A 40m2 top structure
* Comprehensive ownership as a form of tenure
* Waterborne sewerage
* Running water inside the house
* Concrete floors
* Re-sequence housing delivery protocol referred to here above.

Exceptions:

* Geo-technical conditions
* Topographical conditions
* Beneficiary choice
* Consolidation subsidies (The residual amount of R 8000 should provide a minimum top structure size of 30m2)

Expenditure

In terms of nationally prescribed financial regulations, a rollover of five percent of the annual Provincial Financial allocation is 
acceptable.

For further information please contact : Mbulelo Linda (Communications Officer) at 083 455 8669 or (040) 636 4331
 Department of Housing, Local Government & Traditional Affairs

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