Cape Town - The provincial department of human settlements plans to use 50% of its Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) to create jobs.
In a statement to mark the beginning of the 2020/21 financial year, Human Settlements MEC Tertius Simmers said: “The HSDG will be used to empower contractors from all targeted groups including women and youth. Utilising the EPWP-programme, 800 job opportunities will be created.
“My department’s budget of just over R 2.4 billion will allow us to deliver 17235 housing opportunities, which consists of 7 343 serviced sites and 9892 units. The allocation of R67.9 million enables us to transfer
7 000 title deeds,” he said.
“We shall endeavour to ensure that the 25 human settlement developments that will commence in 2020/21 have stoeps, social amenities and public spaces on March 23 we launched our WCGServices App, so that our citizens can easily access information on government housing assistance, register for the first time or update their details.
“One of the biggest advantages of the app is its assistance in efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19, as potential beneficiaries would no longer have to visit a housing office to be assisted.”
ANC human settlements spokesperson Andile Lili said: “Sadly, the safety of our people during the Covid-19 pandemic goes beyond the launching of apps. Our people need real interventions to ensure they have access to water and decent sanitation.
“Through this budget, the department is presented with a wonderful opportunity to acquire land that can unlock thousands of housing opportunities,” said Lili.