R4.6bn allocated to upgrade informal settlements across the country
The extent of the housing needs across the country have fallen into sharp focus in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, says government.
HUMAN Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says R4.6 billion has been allocated to provinces and metro municipalities to upgrade more than 300 informal settlements.
Sisulu said this when 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.
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“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.
Sisulu said the extent of the housing needs across the country have fallen into sharp focus in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This, she said, has made the need to improve living conditions in informal settlements even more pressing.
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