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BACKGROUND

We have reached that crucial part on our policy implementation road where we are putting the nuts and tightening the bolts to make sure that low income earners do get access to adequate, secure and safe shelter supported by the requisite services.

Feed back from some communities has confirmed that some of the units produced do not provide adequate shelter and living space for families. There are a number of reasons for this:
* lack of sufficient information for beneficiaries on housing related issues like size, costing of material and ability to read plans which are vital in making informed decisions about their options regarding sizes of units. This matter is currently being addressed,
* some contractors and developers have taken advantage of the unrestrictive and loose definition of norms and standards. Coupled with the fact that these were left to the discretion of the operatives on the ground. The rationale behind this was mainly to produce a groundswell of innovation and creativity in encouraging people to produce units of good value. This has led to unscrupulous developers skimming off and producing units that are substandard in terms of providing adequate living spaces for families, The People's Housing Process has succeeded in putting mechanisms in place that regulated options regarding size of product. We have, however not been as successful in contracted projects.

We did not have strict specifications that clearly defined the basic parameters within which housing development would take place. A document stipulating these specifications has been drafted and is under discussion.

NORMS AND STANDARDS

The department of Housing is now engaged in the implementation of legislation. Accordingly, Section 3(2) of the Housing Act, 107 of 1997, demands of the Minister to determine norms and standards. We are proud to announce the introduction of minimum acceptable criteria for the housing development using the government's grant. Norms and standards will provide a basis to determine basic levels of services that may be financed from the subsidy and quantify the costs. Furthermore, they will also determine the average amount of subsidy that remains for the provision of an adequate top structure.

Municipal services to be subsidised by the housing subsidy

The acceptable levels of service provision in respect of municipal services entail the basic internal reticulation services that could be subsidised rather than the specific levels of basic services. These include water, sanitation, roads, stormwater and street lighting. The funding limit of such services has been put at approximately R7 500.00 for both acquiring land and servicing it. In cases where there are geo-technical and topographical conditions for either the construction of services and or top structures, a 15 percent variation on the subsidy to cater for such conditions will be built in.

Norms and standards for residential structures

The minimum size of a house to be built with a government subsidy is currently under discussion and this will take into abnormal geo-technical or topographical conditions of the area. The maximum amount of 15 percent of the subsidy will be allocated to cater for this. The provincial housing boards may with approval of the MEC for housing in the province, deviate from these standards only if there are reasonable circumstance which justify this.
Norms and standards for both the provision of municipal services and permanent residences are not applicable to units produced under the following programmes:

* People's Housing Process - where people are in control of, and determine the size of the units they would like to build;
* Project or areas that are eligible for rural subsidies;
* Projects which include in situ upgrading of informal settlements. It is hoped that through these tools acceptable levels of service will be achieved for the benefit of poor and ordinary people who seek shelter and security of tenure.

HOUSING SUBSIDIES FOR THE DISABLED

BACKGROUND

The disabled people form one of the most neglected sector of our society in terms of access to goods and services. Up to now, few buildings have been constructed taking their needs into account. Their living spaces are nothing but ideal.

The Integrated National Disability Strategy currently implemented in the office of the Deputy President mandates all departments to provide for the special needs for the disabled in their policies and strategies. Furthermore, in terms of section 2(1) of the Housing Act 107 of 1997, government is obliged to meet the special needs of the disabled.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that subsidy levels for the disabled will be increased by between 8 percent and 36 percent depending on the severity of the person's disability. The aim is not only to make sure that disabled people are part of the housing consumer loop, but this as a means of enabling them to get appropriate shelter for their needs. Each provincial office will determine its implementation date.

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Ministry of Housing Kgora ya Dintlo
Umnyango Wezezindlu Ministerie van Behuising

Contact: Gege Kekana
Cetl : 083-4574577
Phone: (021) 461 -58401457296

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