CITY of Cape Town’s department of human settlements councillor, Ernest Sonnenberg, tabled the budget speech for the department on the 29 of May 2012. Improving the overall living and built environment of communities within the city, whilst balancing quantity with quality housing opportunities is the priority of the department. The Human Settlements budget for the 2012/2013 amounts to R732 million and will be mainly spent on building truly integrated human settlements, with the necessary community facilities. The focus in this financial year will be on the following six areas:

1.   The facilitation and development of sustainable integrated human settlements with the provision of GAP Housing project (gap housing project comprises people who typically earn between R3 500 and R15 000 per month), new rental opportunities, social rental housing, and the upgrade of existing rental units.

2.   The integration of housing delivery with the other city departments to ensure contribution towards the building of a compact city and optimal use of facilities by utilising the Urban Settlements Development Grant more effectively.

3.   The incremental upgrading of informal settlements which will allow for site and service as well as tenure, and the backyarder programme which will see the creation of a better living environment through access to basic services in the city’s rental stock units.

4.   The strategic management and maintenance of the city’s rental assets.

5.   To ensure that Human Settlements is a leading Directorate in the social and economic development of disadvantaged areas to ensure quality of life and that the environment in which communities live is improved through new integrated development.

6.   Promoting and ensuring meaningful partnerships with business and community based stakeholders, and ensuring that potential for service delivery is maximized.

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