Human Settlements

(1) The number of government officials on the waiting list for rental housing opportunities is 1 116. This waiting list was opened to public servants in 2016 and closed a few months later due to the high volume of applications received. It should be noted that the rental stock was intended to assist beneficiaries registered on Municipal waiting lists and excluded public servants. A decision was taken in 2016 to allow for a certain number of allocations to be reserved for publics servants to assist with cross-subsidization to make the return on the units more profitable.

(2) My department embarked on a Rental Turnaround Strategy in July 2020 to improve the management of the rental stock. In this regard, the Allocation Framework was introduced to replace the system whereby a middle manager was given the authority to make allocations. The new process is more transparent as allocations are done through a Committee that applies approved allocation criteria. Currently, there are 6 vacant units for which applications will be submitted to the Allocations Committee for a recommendation. Delays were experienced during the implementation phase of the Allocation Framework. However, once the 6 vacancies have been addressed, all future vacancies will be filled within 3 months of vacancy. During this period, the unit will also be renovated to an acceptable level before an intake of a new applicant.