Human Settlements
- What are his Department’s plans to reverse the legacy of apartheid spatial planning and (b) what are the details of all the actions that have been taken since 2009 to put these plans into effect?
(a &b) Between the period 2009 and 2014 the Built Environment Support Programme
was implemented as a transversal programme between the Departments of Human Settlements and Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. The main objective was to get alignment between the municipal spatial development plans and the human settlement plans so that spatial imbalances can be addressed over time.
Good progress was made but the programme came to an end in 2014. Since then, we have continued to render support to local municipalities to improve spatial alignment of human settlement projects. Through the initiatives of the transversal management system, a workgroup was established to focus on Spatial Development and Integrated Planning. Additional role players have been involved and currently the alignment of Spatial Development, Integrated Development, Human Settlement, Infrastructure Growth, Integrated Transport Planning and Waste Management Plans is being addressed.
The following planned projects at: Conradie Hospital, Voortrekker Road; Northern and Southern corridors, Somerset Nursing College, Woodstock Hospital, Oranjezig, Bo Kaap, Die Buit in George, Greater Retreat infill developments with particular reference to the Ottery sites as well as my department’s rental units at Sanddrift, Plumstead, De Waal flats and Gatesville are good examples of addressing the spatial imbalances of the past.
Support for spatial integration revolves around:
- development of human settlement plans, development and reviews of human settlement pipelines;
- the actual town planning and project packaging work with the housing and spatial planning unit of the municipalities;
- support and input into the Integrated Development Plans of municipalities and addressing the challenge to ensure that those projects feed into the municipal Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
My department is proactively involved in programs and innovations that continuously seek reversal of the legacy of apartheid spatial planning through the transversal of planning to improve sequencing of interventions by different departments. Importantly support is also rendered to drive projects to redress the spatial landscape, and create better living conditions to all.
