Issued by: Ministry of Housing
Thursday, August 29, 1996
The period for receiving public comment in the draft Housing Bill has been extended due to the unprecedented number of responses received from the public, according to Housing Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele.
"Not only have we received a significant number of responses, but the quality of the submissions were also very high. In briefly reviewing the submissions, it is clear that the comments submitted to us - many of them from local authorities - will add a great deal of value to the draft Bill," she said.
A number of requests for an extension to the deadline for sub- mitting comment have also been received. "We have therefore agreed to extend the period for submissions to October 14, and a notice to this effect will appear in the Government Gazette tomorrow," Mthembi-Mahanyele said.
The extension of the closing date for comment means the final draft of the Bill will not be completed in time for consideration by Parliament before the end of this year.
"We expect Cabinet to consider the Bill in late January next year and Parliament around the beginning of March. The new imple- mentation date now moves from April 1, 1997 to July 1, 1997 - co- incidentally, the first day of the new financial year for local authorities," she said.
Mthembi-Mahanyele said she was "extremely pleased" with the overwhelming number of constructive comments already received.
PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS: DRAFT HOUSING BILL 1996
Invite representatives of local Government 29 august 1996 and Provincial Administrations to a workshop
Workshop with representatives of Local 19 September 1996 Government and Provincial Administrations
Extended deadline for the submission of 14 October 1996 comments on the Bill
Finalise Draft Bill 4 November 1996
Distribute the Draft Bill to the Depts of State 7 November 1996 Expenditure, Constitutional Development, Finance, Water Affairs and Forestry, Welfare and Land Affairs; the nine provinces, the nine provincial local government associations, the National Housing Board chairpersons and the nine Provincial Housing Board chairpersons
Comments received to be discussed with 14 November 1996 the above negotiating partners
Distribute revised Bill to NHB 19 November 1996
NHB to consider the Bill 27 November 1996
Submit Bill to Special Meeting of Heads of 9 January 1997 Housing Departments to consider the Bill
Submit Bill to Special MinMec Meeting 10 January 1997
Submit to Minister for approval 14 January 1997
Submit to Parliamentary Officer 16 January 1997
Submit Bill to State Law Advisor for 13 February 1997 certification
Introduce into Parliament 1 March 1997
Date of implementation of the Bill 1 July 1997
Contact: Mandy Jean Woods Cellphone: 082-653-4211 Pager : (011) 804-2777 code 71799