MBOMBELA – A staggering R1 822 billion has been budgeted for the delivery of houses in the province for the 2016/17 financial year.

Tabling her budget, MEC for human settlements,
Ms Violet Siwela announced this amount was geared towards tangible human- settlements projects for the benefit of all needy people in Mpumalanga.

Siwela commended the new spatial pattern of sustainable and integrated human settlements, and announced that 16 186 housing opportunities will be delivered this financial year and this will be made possible by the construction of 8 720 housing units and the servicing of 7 466 sites across the province.

A total figure of R1,647 billion has been set aside to develop houses and to implement projects such as the Breaking New Ground in local municipalities such as Mbombela, Umjindi, eMalahleni, Steve Tshwete, Victor Khanye, Govan Mbeki and Lekwa.
“Irrespective of having seen some imposing progress over the past few years, a lot still lies ahead to ensure that we fully embrace and deliver on our mandate,” explained Siwela while maintaining that the department would continue to deliver integrated human settlements to ensure that everyone is housed adequately and have their dignity restored as enshrined in the Constitution.

Dealing with the scourge of informal settlements in the mining towns and other rural communities, she restated that, after the commitment by the premier Mr David Mabuza in his State of the Province Address, the province would invest R545 million in various municipalities to improve living conditions and the quality of life of beneficiaries.

Chairperson for the portfolio committee on human settlements, Mr Thulare Madileng, acknowledged the inexorable efforts and commitment of the department as candid and that it provided for all persons who deserved a house without any favour or discrimination.