R31,4 m to purchase land in strategic economic areas

The Department of Corporative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) has set aside R31,4 million for the acquisition of land in strategic economic areas, especially mining towns.
This was said by MEC Jerry Ndou when he tabled a R2,838 billion budget vote for the department at the Legislature last Thursday.
He said the department had not purchased land in the past two years hence they would pursue land portions in Musina and Thabazimbi.
When tabling the budget vote, Ndou said the departmental appropriation increased from R2,581 billion in 2017/18 to R2,624 billion in 2018/19 and this is mainly due to a once off allocation of R50 million for construction of Traditional Council Offices.
A notable increase from R2,629 billion in 2018/19 to 2,838 billion is attributed to the introduction of Title Deed Restoration grant, he stated.
He further said compensation of employees is increasing from R981 million to R1,041 billion and goods and services increases from R170 million to R185 million. Transfers and subsidies increases from R1,260 billion to R1,316 billion while payment of capital assets is decreasing from R84 million to R61 million due to reduced allocation for buildings and other fixed structures and machinery and equipment.
“In this financial year, we have planned installation of services in 4 629 sites at an amount of R231,5 million through Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme.
These informal settlements will be upgraded and formalised by March 2019 and about 18 000 beneficiaries are set to benefit in this regard. Our 2018/19 subsidy quantum will be increased to match the national determination of R115 000 per housing unit,” explained Ndou.
It was reported that by the end of March the department had managed to recover, build and hand over 9 132 houses for the financial year 2017/18, thus achieving 92% of the annual target.
The remaining 8% of the housing units target is at various stages of construction hence the completion is planned for the first quarter of the financial 2018/19.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za