Issued by: Ministry of Housing
Housing Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele is to make an official visit to the Netherlands next week where she will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on housing and housing-related issues.
She will depart on Saturday, October 5 for a four-day visit to Amsterdam and The Hague. While there, she will be meeting with her counterpart, State Secretary Dick Tommel, Foreign Minister Pronk and other Dutch government officials.
She will also be meeting with a range of non-government organisations (NGOs) who are involved in the broad area of housing with a view to sharing information and discussing South African housing policy.
Issues to be discussed include housing associations/co-operatives; densification; training and funding for community contractors; and sustainable building materials, among other things. Funding for various local housing initiatives will also be discussed with the various organisations.
Minister Mthembi-Mahanyele will be giving the keynote address at a major housing conference on World Habitat Day (Monday, October 7). She will also visit the Help Mandela Bouen project in Dam Square in Amsterdam and participate in various activities in support of the project.
In her absence, Transport Minister Mac Maharaj will act as Minister of Housing.