CoGHSTA sets aside R1,4b for Lim human settlement issues
The Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) has built 10 527 new RDP houses at a cost of R1,5 billion for people living below the breadline.
LIMPOPO – The houses were completed and awarded to the beneficiaries, most of whom had never had a roof over their heads for the better part of their lives.
The MEC, Makoma Makhurupetje, said the houses would restore dignity and worth to the beneficiaries.
She said this year the department has set aside R1,4 billion to address issues related to human settlement, R290 million for cooperative governance, and R496 million for traditional affairs.
“The human settlement development grant for this financial year was R1,208 billion and the rollover budget was R394 million. The combined budget for the year 2016/17, and of the rollover, is R1,6 billion,” she said in her budget speech at Lebowakgomo recently.
“In terms of the unit, the department targeted to build 12 980 units this financial year. Of the target, the department built 10 463 houses, which benefitted over 41 000 people of Limpopo, who previously had no roof over their heads,” she added.
Makhurupetje said work was currently on progress in the construction of the balance of 2 517 units.
She said the people of Limpopo can relax because her department was determined to break the divide between the poor and the well-off, in terms of housing.
In an effort to empower traditional leaders in the province, Makhurupetsa, who is also a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC Women’s League further, increased the budget for the houses of traditional leaders in the province.
She said Chapter 9 of the Constitution recognises the the existence of traditional leaders as an institution that holds custodianship over matters of culture, custom and heritage.
She said to that effect the department has set aside R22,5 million for the refurbishment of traditional councils in the province.
Makhurepetjie said an amount of R10 million was also set aside for the purchasing of furniture in the councils, and that R 20 million had been allocated for the refurbishment of kingship and queenship for infrastructure purposes.
Filia Nwamitwa, of the Royal Leaders Association, hailed Makhurupetje, saying the new budget was a step in the right direction.
“This will help traditional leaders discharge their day-to-day duties with confidence, thanks to a leader of Makhurupetje’s calibre, who has her best interest of traditional leaders and councils at heart,” she said.
A community activist, Sanko Madia from the Lephepane area, who has been advocating RDP houses for poor households in the area, praised the MEC, saying she deserved to lead the province as premier in future elections.
Two years ago, Makhurupetje’s department had to reverse about R465 million back to the national treasury, after the department failed to spend the money.
In the same year, about 500 houses were also abandoned by service providers who could not finish the projects before the required period.
But Makhurupetje put her foot down, calling on service providers with poor workmanship, and those who abandoned the project, to shape up or ship out.
“We have either terminated their contracts with us, or blacklisted them, while others had the number of their units reduced so that they were able to meet their deadlines,” she said in conclusion.
