Human Settlements

1. My department has put the following measures in place to minimise instances of corruption occurring in the allocation of houses:

The development of a web-based platform for municipalities to capture and record applicant information on the Western Cape Housing Demand Database – (WCHDDB). Through this platform, each of the 24 non-metro municipalities has essentially been provided with access to a web-based system for electronically managing their own housing demand data. The system has the following access controls:

• Limited user access with unique usernames and password to prevent unauthorised updating of data. This measure prevents any official from accessing the database. User access to municipal officials is managed by my department.

• Separation of roles and responsibilities of duties in the WCHDDB by means of different user profiles to ensure:

• • quality control by housing managers
  • limited access to update critical fields i.e. Date of registration and ID numbers.

This measure ensures that only senior municipal officials can change registration dates or ID numbers. The official must indicate in the notes field the reason for the changes.  This is to ensure that an audit trail on user activity is recorded for each action on the database.

Through this measure my department is able to monitor any activity on the database.

Even though each municipality manages their own Housing Demand Database (HDD), I issued an executive directive to all municipalities after assuming duty to ensure that a 50/50 principle guides the selection outcome for housing allocation to beneficiaries. This is to ensure that there is a balance in subsidized housing project allocations within municipalities between households living in informal settlements and those living in backyards and overcrowded formal areas.   My Department’s “Provincial Framework Policy further provides guidance for municipalities in the management of their HDD. 

We embarked on a Housing Demand Database Verification Drive throughout the province, where residents are given the opportunity to register and to confirm or update their details on the list.

My department has also launched a housing App as part of the Western Cape Government Services Mobile App that will enable the applicant to Update or Register his / her details on the housing needs database and this will also help to minimize visiting municipal offices. 

2. My department has always endeavoured in using the latest technology in the construction of our housing units.  Two such projects are in Delft and Forest Village. 

Temporary accommodation was provided to families in Wuppertal where their dwellings were destroyed by fire.  The material used were a form of modular insulated sandwich panels.

In a project currently underway in Silvertown, Athlone, the following three different material types are being used:

• Sanjo Fabtech,

• RBM Green Building System.

• Robust Building System

Isospan Intastor building system will be used to construct the roof.

Although we promote Sustainable Building Technologies, these systems are usually more expensive than the conventional building methods and materials and take longer to construct.

Recent estimates show that higher density units (multi-storey) with concrete frame and cement block panels are cheaper, faster and materials are more available and more acceptable.