A partnership to fast track rural housing delivery by including rural people and traditional building methods was signed on Friday by delegates attending the Eastern Cape Housing Indaba in East London.
The contract urges for the support of traditional ways of building and ensures that rural people are part of the implementation of the housing programme in order to transfer skills and also create jobs.
"It is important that as we implement government's housing programmes the beneficiaries are part of the building process, by being involved in the building process we restore their dignity and they will look after the house, they will also acquire skills and get employment" said Chief Phathekile Holomisa, a representative of the House of Traditional leaders.
Delegates at the conference resolved to form a social contract for integrated human settlements in rural housing which calls on all stakeholders to work together to fast track housing delivery.
The indaba, hosted by the National Department of Housing and the Provincial Government of the Eastern Cape was attended by government officials, academics, traditional leaders, members of both houses of parliament, business community and different stakeholders in the housing sector.
Opening the indaba last week, Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela said the integrated human settlement plan of government will restore the dignity of communities and give many South African's an opportunity to heal.
"The Comprehensive Human Settlement Plan, known as Breaking New Ground (BNG) require that we build rural homes with gardens, space for children to play and also build them with both social and economic amenities," she said.
This, Premier Balindlela explained, would give many of 'our people' an opportunity to enjoy parks and to have access to basic social and economic amenities that are not there in rural areas.
Delegates at the indaba further committed themselves to work towards eradicating of informal settlements by 2014, working with traditional leaders to build sustainable integrated human settlements in rural areas with access to basic services.
They also agreed to engage in a detailed proposal to have full cover insurance for government subsidised houses and called on the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) to ensure that traditional rural housing methods are researched and enhanced.
Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs, Thoko Xhasa said government should ensure that the use of a house as an asset in rural areas does not expose families to financial risks that can lead to evictions and other problems.
"We must find a balance to build sustainable rural communities with access to both social and economic amenities using financial models that will never expose rural people to unnecessary debts," she said.
The indaba also resolved that housing delivery will be supported by job opportunities and building of social infrastructure.
"If we build rural houses with all amenities in line with BNG, those who want to remain in rural areas will remain in rural areas as they will have access to all the things people in the city have" National Housing Director General, Itumeleng Kotsoane said.
Bongani Mlangeni
East London
BuaNews (Tshwane)
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