Johannesburg - A housing ombudsman would be established to monitor policies and address issues in the housing sector, the department of human settlements said on Sunday.
The announcement was made by Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu during the National Settlement Indaba held at the Sandton Convention Centre before the weekend.
“We have agreed that the department of human settlements will establish the ombudsman office for the housing sector by November 14, 2014 to monitor the implementation of all policies and the resolution of this indaba,” Sisulu said.
She would work with Co-operative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the SA Local Government Association to resolve several issues which were raised during the indaba.
During the indaba. Sisulu and other stakeholders committed to delivering 1.5 million housing opportunities by 2019.
Over R250 billion would be directed to this cause.
Other issues which were discussed included eradicating the backlog of title deeds for pre and post-1994 housing stock, reviewing the eviction laws, and the urgent need to make serviced sites to employees who did not qualify for government subsidies.
The indaba was attended by ministers, local government delegates, mining companies, property owners and developers, engineers and employers.
It resolved that government must prioritise pensioners, orphans and military veterans in provision of housing, but also intensify the implementation of other creative programmes to support young people in urban areas.
Sapa