The IFP has slammed the Department of Human Settlements for its failure to
assist those provinces which are struggling to spend their allocated housing
budget efficiently.

IFP Spokesperson for Human Settlements, Mr Petros Sithole, said, "The move
by the Department of Human Settlements to take over the remaining housing
budget from the Free State, Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces shows lack of
foresight. Currently, these provinces are not on track to meet their housing
target. This delays the delivery of services."

The lack of communication and interaction between the national Department
and the Provincial Departments has resulted in massive under-spending. The
national Department does not seem to have any effective monitoring
capabilities, and this worries the IFP.

"The housing backlog is big. Instead of adding to it, the Department should
have helped these provinces to meet their delivery targets. Without knowing
what the provinces are doing, the Department comes off as unable to fulfill
its mandate, which has a direct impact on people who have been patiently
waiting for houses," said Sithole.

The IFP calls on the Minister of Human Settlements and Provincial MECs to
make sure that all provinces are in line with their budget allocations for
housing. In addition the IFP would like to encourage all Provincial
Departments of Human Settlements to take the initiative when they need help
from the national Department. Under-expenditure will not be tolerated, as so
many service delivery protests have shown.