Date: 05/06/2009

Source: Democratic Alliance

Title: DA: Steyn: Speech by the DA shadow minister of human settlements at the State of the Nation debate in Parliament

Mr. Speaker, Honourable President, Honourable Deputy President, Members of the Executive and Members of the House.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Minister Sexwale and Deputy Minister Zoe Kota on their appointments to lead this important ministry. As members may be aware, the Housing ministry has never had a deputy minister, and I pray that the combination of these two individuals will lead to the creation of sustainable communities.

Deputy Minister Kota, as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee over the last 10 years, comes with political knowledge from the side that must hold cabinet to account and in-depth knowledge from the community and beneficiary's perspective, whilst Minister Sexwale brings political, and most importantly,shrewd business savvy to the department.

Mr. Speaker, it would also be remiss of me at this point if I did not acknowledge the delivery over the last five years, and indeed since the advent of democracy. Admittedly, while there have been far too many instances of corruption and problems related to the quality of the houses, and I still have a big question regarding the official number of houses built, Minister Sisulu's bold step to move away from the delivery of houses to the creation of sustainable communities must be applauded.

Ongelukkig, Mnr Speaker, is daar nog nie ‘n werklike, handhaafbare gemeenskaps projek voltooi nie. Daar was ‘n moontlikheid dat die Cosmo City projek dalk so gemeenskap kon wees, maar ongelukkig is daar nog te veel tekortkominge wat ander gemeenskaplike dienste en infrastruktuur betref.

[English translation:] Unfortunately Mr. Speaker, we have yet to see a truly sustainable community that has been developed. There was a possibility of Cosmo City being such a project, but there are regrettably still too many shortcomings related to other community and/or social services and infrastructure.

In fact, less than a week ago, Mr Speaker, it was reported that the Department has failed to comply with a vital component in the building process: they failed to register housing projects with the National Home Builders Registration Council over the last ten years. As a result, all 8 000 houses in Cosmo City have been rejected by NHBRC. This situation, if true, will require your urgent attention Honourable Minister Sexwale.

We cannot tolerate a situation where we pass legislation in this House, only to have it ignored by the very Department that initiated it.

Minister Sisulu is also on record as having said that she, and I quote, "is not just the Minister of Housing, but the minister of all housing, both public and private". This was obviously as a result of the ANC's misguided desire to control gender and race quotas, even within our cities. I assume, Minister Sexwale, that this mantle has now been passed on to you as well.

I therefore wish to put the following suggestion to President Zuma and you, Minister Sexwale. Some of the very people who fund the construction of homes for the poor are facing the real possibility of becoming homeless themselves. It is a fact, Mr Speaker, that in the current economic climate, many, particularly lower and middle-income taxpayers, have already lost their homes, or are about to lose their homes. Our legislation does not allow these now homeless people, to benefit under the subsidised housing scheme, and there is a strong possibility that most of them will never become homeowners again. At a media briefing at the JSE last week, Minister Sexwale, you said that you intend using all your business contacts to ensure that the 2 million plus South Africans on the waiting list get homes.

I therefore urge your government, Honourable President, to start urgent negotiations with financial institutions to avoid a looming catastrophe. Many people's homes in the category I am referring to, are being repossessed due to relatively small arrear amounts, and in some instances, the outstanding amount on the loan is a fraction of the value of the property. These properties are then auctioned off and are mostly snapped up by unscrupulous investors, who are in cahoots with employees from these institutions, for a fraction of the real value.

Mr Speaker, lest I be misunderstood, let me make it very clear. I am in no way asking for government to interfere in the free market, and unlike SAA or the SABC, am not suggesting a cash bail-out. What I am asking for, Honourable President, is for your government to interact with these financial institutions to look at short term measures to alleviate the burden on these homeowners during this difficult economic times. The repossession of homes should be an absolutely last resort.

Just like you have acted to reduce job losses, so to, must you act to avoid people losing their homes if it can be avoided.

Mr. Speaker, honourable members. I accept the partnership that the honourable President is calling for, and on behalf of my caucus, the Democratic Alliance, I commit us both individually and collectively, to the process of reconstruction and nation building within this country. We commit ourselves to offer whatever experience we have, in as constructive a manner as possible, to the creation of a caring society.

I thank you.