In a written parliamentary reply over housing issues experienced in the province, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, confirms that the province is grappling with housing challenges and mushrooming of informal settlements. She, however, notes that plans are afoot to deliver 1 800 units during the 2021/22 financial year. Sisulu says this will be spread across 13 villages and confirms geotechnical studies in 15 additional villages to determine the suitability of the soil in order to appoint service providers to implement housing projects are underway.

“The Local Municipality confirmed that it is receiving assistance from the Provincial Department of Human Settlements with the Township Establishments Plans for three projects, namely Mogwase Unit 4 Extension, Unit 6 and Unit 7 which will cumulatively yield 4 600 stands for mixed integrated residential uses that will include BNG housing, Social housing and housing for middle income households,” she added.

Sisulu’s statement over housing challenges in the province comes just a month after opposition parties in the Provincial Legislature demanded answers from MEC Mmoloki Cwaile and how he plans to use this year’s budget to address current challenges.

READ: #Covid19 lays bare NW housing challenges

Tabling the department's 2021/22 budget, Cwaile on the one hand told Members of the Provincial Legislature more indeed needs to be done to address housing backlogs and ensure that the dignity of residents is restored.

He said R320 million has been set aside specifically for the upgrading of informal settlements. With more than 620 villages across the province and over 300 informal settlements, Cwaile said they are expecting this budget allocation to assist at least 1.3 million of the population.

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