SHRA SPEECH FOR SOD TURNING CEREMONY OF GOODWOOD STATION PROJECT IN THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE (26 FEBRUARY 2019)

Thank you, Programme Director. I feel honoured to be part of this gathering, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence of Minister for Human Settlements Nomaindiya Mfeketo, Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Zoe Kota Fredericks, Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements, MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela, NHFC, Prasa representation and other senior officials present here and all invited guests gathered here.

The Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA), is an entity of the Department of Human Settlements, based within the Department’s Rental Housing Programme. The entity is required to deliver 27 000 social housing units within the MTSF ending 31 March 2019. Days such as these are truly milestone achievement worth celebrating. The Western Cape Province has delivered 1129 social housing units against an MTSF target of 4108.

The 1 055 units that are going to be built here, are going to bring us closer to achieving our target and integrating targeted beneficiaries to the local communities, amenities and workplaces. On behalf of the SHRA, I would also like to congratulate the following stakeholders, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements, City of Cape Town Municipality, National Housing Finance Corporation for debt funding and DCI Community Services for their hard work and contribution towards building and completion of this project and lastly PRASA for availing the land for such a massive human settlements project.

Minister as per our mandate as Council, we are right on track in terms of delivery. We look forward to the day when we walk through the completed project with the sight of children playing in a safe enclosed environment and occupants having the privilege of being close to their places of work, health care, government departments, schools, retail spaces and other amenities. Social housing projects not only afford our fellow South Africans accommodation but also present opportunity for them to be the drivers of the economic activities that we see around this area.

The work should not stop here. A concerted effort needs to be made to address ongoing supply-side constraints to meet the growing market demand for social housing and, in this manner, to drive spatial, social and economic transformation in the country. All stakeholders: The SHRA, all spheres of government, social housing delivery agents and key stakeholders in the private sector must work together to ensure that the many opportunities for growth in the sector can be leveraged to ensure the expansion of social housing delivery.

The SHRA depends on relationships with accredited Social Housing Institutions such as DCI Community Services and Other Delivery Agents (ODA’s) to fast track construction of these houses for the benefit of the intended beneficiaries. These relationships can be strengthened by all stakeholder supporting the project. We as the SHRA are open for business and we welcome partnerships that will take our mandate forward. This is the evidence that the government is at work, Ndiyabulela thank you.