The DA in Mpumalanga expresses concern over the housing backlog in the province widening annually as Human Settlements Department and MEC Speedy Mashilo keep failing to meet set targets.
Currently the province has a housing backlog of 275 105 (up from 225 023 in 2020/2021). In 2016/2017 under Violet Siwela, the former MEC of Human Settlements, the backlog stood at 147 000.
According to the departments own annual report of 2021/2022, they set themselves a target of providing 10 621 housing opportunities, but they only managed to provide 9 832- with the majority of this being 6 857 serviced sites. This clearly shows that MEC, Speedy Mashilo, and his department are not so speedy at all when it comes to delivering much needed housing to residents of Mpumalanga.
The DA finds the above extremely concerning against the backdrop of the current housing backlog we have in the province.
This department should be doing all that it can to roll out much needed housing and the related services to the residents who have been waiting for 28-years. However, the shortcomings in this department is negating this and merely adding to the housing backlog in return.
The department’s 2021/22 annual report further reveals that they are struggling with Bulk Water projects and the issuing of title deeds. The department failed to complete seven planned bulk-water projects and have shifted these to the next financial year. With regards to title deeds, the department only managed to issue 692 out of a planned target of 4 685.
Given the above, the DA has written to MEC Mashilo requesting that he deals with the inadequacies in his department in order to decrease our housing backlog.