Stakeholders’ collaboration remains paramount in the upgrading of informal settlements. Department's Director for Integrated Human Settlements Planning, Ms Buyisiwe Zuma emphasised this point during this week’s quarterly Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) Forum at Middelburg, Nkangala District Municipality. The aim is to share ideas and present plans for upgrading informal settlements across the province. In attendance were town planners from all spheres of government and consultants charged with implementing the programme.
As part of the current financial year planned township establishments, over 21 000 sites are planned for. The Nkangala District accounts for over 15 000 sites. This is informed by the fact that the district has many informal settlements. On the front of servicing of sites for upgrading of informal settlements, the Department will service 1740 sites across three districts in the province. The plan also recorded that R20 million is set aside for land acquisition in Leandra, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality. The acquired land shall cater for the resettlement of some households in the municipality.
In embracing the plan, Ms Zuma called the municipalities to support the implementation. "The municipalities are at the centre of service delivery, and our plans need their buy-in as well as maximum participation in the forum", said Zuma. In addition, Zuma spoke plainly as she dealt with the culture of absenteeism or none attendance by some municipalities. To that end, the forum resolved that letters be written to those municipalities, as their absence cripples integrated planning.
Mr Nelson Mohlala who is responsible for Informal Settlement Management at Steve Tshwete Local Municipality also echoed the importance of this forum. "Our participation in this forum is helpful as it presents us with an opportunity to ventilate our challenges and measure our performance against our peers", said Mohlala. He added that the forum helps track and measure if Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) align with the sector plans from national and provinces. The forum also had a presentation on First Home Finance, a government-housing programme that caters for middle-income earners.
ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE
MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
CONTACT: FREDDY NGOBE – 013 766 6014 / 082 859 4630/ flngobe@mpg.gov.za