R4.6bn allocated to upgrade informal settlements
R2.4 billion and R2.2 billion have been allocated for provinces and metros respectively in the current budget towards upgrading of informal settlements.
HUMAN Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said R4.6 billion has been allocated to provinces and metro municipalities to upgrade over 300 informal settlements.
This was mentioned by Sisulu while she outlined the spending priorities for the department during a virtual sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
“Together with provinces, we will work with communities and municipalities to incrementally upgrade over 300 informal settlements and improve living conditions of households. Our policy is clear that for those informal settlements on safe ground, the first choice is to upgrade in-situ. This means that an agreement is reached with the community on the development plan and clear priorities are then planned for. This includes consolidating the occupation rights into formal tenure, access roads, water reticulation as well as sanitation and electricity. R2.4 billion and R2.2 billion are allocated for provinces and metros respectively in the current budget towards upgrading of informal settlements,” she said.
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Sisulu said the extent of the housing needs across the country have fallen into sharp focus in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. She said this has made the need to improve living conditions in informal settlements even more pressing.
“The upgrading plans that were already agreed with communities and municipalities needed to be implemented instantly. I want to state categorically today, that our programme for the upgrading of informal settlements is strongly anchored in collaboration with resident communities. There can never be sustainable upgrading without the active participation and ownership of families who reside in informal settlements,” she said.
Sisulu said the department would introduce Covid-19 impact relief measures to enable the sector to survive the serious shocks and constraints brought about by the pandemic.
This includes rental relief to tenants in affordable rental housing who face financial distress due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The rental relief is solely aimed at assisting tenants in formal affordable rental housing to meet their monthly rent obligations. R600 million is allocated for this purpose and the details of this Rent Relief for Tenants in Affordable Rental Housing will be published in the next 30 days.
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