Date: 08/10/2004
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
Title: S Moloto: Limpopo Housing Summit


SPEAKERS NOTES FOR THE PREMIER OF LIMPOPO, MR S MOLOTO, AT THE HOUSING SUMMIT HELD AT THE PART HOTEL, Mokopane, 8th October 2004

Programme Director
The MEC for Local Government & Housing
The Mayor of Mogalakwena Municipality
Members of the Portfolio Committee
Other Mayors and Councillors
Members of the Advisory Panel and other statutory bodies
Other Mayors and Councillors
All stakeholders present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel humbled to be invited to the housing summit which constitutes a crucial platform to reflect on our progress and challenges in housing delivery in the province. Our government has pledged to restore the dignity of our people who endured many years of abject poverty and social degradation through provision of decent and durable housing development.

Whilst our province prides itself as a catalyst in rural housing development, we continue to hear concerns from residents about poor quality houses, misallocation of houses and selling of RDP houses. Our citizens continue to live in informal settlements under inhabitable and deplorable conditions. It is this sort of challenges that this summit must vigorously tackle.

The State of the Nation address by, President Mbeki, set out numerous tasks which government at various levels must execute to realise the social contract between ourselves and the nation. In response to this clarion call, the National Housing Department has launched a Housing Plan.

We are therefore challenged to accelerate housing development for our poor communities. The realisation of this noble ideal rests on our commitment and ability to foster and promote meaningful participation of all stakeholders such as ward committees, developers, financial institutions and civil servants.

It is common course that well established developers and construction companies are not enticed to take part in government