Our gathering here today is of crucial importance as we are about to discuss the topic that is not only about providing shelter to the homeless, but also play a significant role in what defines a 'human being'. I am talking about housing ladies and gentlemen, and People's Housing Process to be specific. Our horrible past has left a number of our people not only without jobs and skills, which makes them unemployable, but it has also left the majority of the poor without homes.
Meanwhile we encourage people to get involved and contribute to their own development, it does not mean that government must therefore relax and do nothing. It is up to this government to come up with innovative ways in making sure that we slowly move away from that past. By government I mean National, Province as well as Local Authorities.
If the People's Housing Process is government's business, and if it is true that the PHP contributes a great deal to the eradication of homelessness situation in this province, then ladies and gentlemen we should show in our actions as government that we understand that, and act likewise. I suppose you could correctly say I am openly lobbying for support for the People's Housing Process in this province, particularly from the Local Authorities.
For obvious good reasons, which are in line with the accelerated housing development strategy, municipalities tend to opt for a 'Massive Housing Development Approach', in addition to that I am just saying even a drop in an ocean does make a difference, and so does the PHP.
I have been listening to people arguing that the PHP is slow and that for every rand government gives to them, they only spend 25c. I suppose that argument could be valid, the trouble is, it forgets to ask the most important question that I would like to ask this house today: what is it that government has not been doing but aught to have done to ensure maximum support to the PHP beneficiaries for utilization of the entire rand that we give them? Ladies and gentlemen this is what this workshop is largely about.
Without necessarily attacking the municipalities but it is true that their involvement in the PHP has been extremely minimal. There have been delays with regard to the issuing of title deeds, there have been delays with regard to the approval of plans, and there has been complete lack of technical, administrative and financial support.
And yet experience shows that with little or none of the above, the PHP beneficiaries have managed to produce bigger houses for less money (only women can do that) with all these kinds of support I have mentioned the process of building houses could be much more quicker, and they can spend that rand faster than one could possibly imagine.
As I am talking to you some municipalities have not yet appointed dedicated housing staff in their areas of jurisdiction, let alone the PHP component. This to me, ladies and gentlemen accounts for slow delivery in the PHP. My department too is not exempted from these criticisms, this is why I have instructed them to do a lot of work in this regard. I am happy to say they will shortly be doing their presentation on the PHP guidelines.
As I said my officials will be doing their detailed presentation on this but I still felt that as minister I should emphasize this. The People's Housing Process could only work well if there is a strong sense of partnership between all those involved, namely, government, communities, support organizations and non governmental organizations, but the entire process should place beneficiaries at the center of all that is happening.
They are the ones who are supposed to be making key decision, not the municipalities, not the developers-in the case of 'Assisted PHP', not province but beneficiaries. Ours is to play a role of what this workshop is about, support to the PHP. This ladies and gentlemen is to ensure that the process remains a people-driven one.
Throughout the Presidential Izimbizo, the president of this country made a call to provincial structures of government that they must support all those who are coming up with initiatives in the spirit of Vukuzenzele. I regard the PHP as one of those initiatives.
It is also very important that the process adhere to the principle of skills transfer. Through the PHP we can make the National Imperative of Black Economic Empowerment meaningful by training the local contractors so that they can be able stand on their feet as sound businessmen and women.
By getting them involved in small projects like the PHP we will be avoiding the problem of sub-contracting, which often subjects to economic exploitation by the well developed ones. If you are coming up with a 2000 unit housing development project, you are basically saying a local builder cannot apply. These are things ladies and gentlemen that we have not been giving adequate attention to.
Not only should it be based on the training of local builders, it should also be based on community empowerment in general. A project that has a well-capacitated committee can never go wrong. From the very same people of humble backgrounds, we must ensure that through the PHP we produce Brick Manufactures and more Home Builders, and we can.
Of critical importance is the handling of PHP funds, and again, since the new law places municipalities at the center of housing development, it is merely logical that they should be involved in the handling of government's funds. In the even they cannot fulfill this obligation, they must still appoint a reputable person/organization to play a role of an Account Administrator.
I am sure that all of you would concur with me in saying the new law of R2 479 has precipitated a shift from that of the big contractors to the PHP in terms of housing development. The demand for the PHP has increased tremendously in the past two years. This is evident when one looks at the number of PHP projects approved this year compared to the previous years.
A total number of 66 projects have been approved this year compared to the 23 projects between 1998 and 2001. What does this demand mean to all of us, especially government? For me it means we should try by all means to make sure we manage this demand by being proactive and putting the correct systems in place. This is what this workshop is about.
What I have mentioned ladies and gentlemen serves as the reason for the slow delivery in PHP. These are the things we did not do but should have done ladies and gentlemen. The painful thing about most mistakes is that by the time we find out we were mistaken it is usually too late to rectify our mistakes. This time around we are still lucky enough because we still have a chance to do it right. I am optimistic that with the right technical, administrative and financial support we could expedite housing delivery through the PHP.
With all those expertise from the Community Based Organizations, NGO's Local Government, Provincial department of housing combined, the PHP can reach its greatest heights of success.
I thank you all.
