148459 HUMAN SETTLEMENT BOOK DRAFT TWO

Message from the Deputy Minister: Pam Tshwete O n the 27th of April this year, our country celebrated 29 years of freedom that ushered in the democratic dispensation since the historic inclusive general elections of April 27, 1994. Many substantive changes have happened in South Africa since that historic date. Among the most positive developments is that the democratic set up marked an end to the continuation of the apartheid spatial planning. The democratic Government adopted a new policy approach of providing housing to the previously disadvantaged. Programmes of the Department of Human Settlements have, amongst others, been designed to ensure that our government provides housing for all qualifying South Africans. This includes military veterans, women, youth, and persons with disabilities. In our policies, we have also ensured that we prioritize the destitute, elderly and child-headed households. Through the Community Schemes Ombud Services (CSOS), we are supporting our people in community residential schemes by providing a regulatory environment for all parties. As the Department of Human Settlements, we

have invested a lot of work in ensuring that the property sector is transformed through our regulatory agency, the Property Practitioners’ Regulatory Authority (PPRA), previously known as the Estate Agency Affairs Board. Our entities have indeed been stabilized, with functional Boards in place, and on course to deliver on their respective mandates. Climate change and its devastating effects has finally become our reality and the recent floods are a warning that more disasters will befall us as South Africa and indeed as the world. In March this year, the Minister announced very progressive policy changes on the Emergency Housing Programme. These policy changes will go a long way in assisting with accelerating the speed of delivery during emergency situations across the country and the provision of alternative accommodation for our people. “Democracy and human rights are inseparable. We cannot have the one without the other.” Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

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