The Gauteng housing department plans to fast-track housing delivery over the next two years, housing minister Nomvula Mokonyane announced on Thursday.
This comes after the special investigating unit confirmed on Wednesday that it is investigating thousands of government officials believed to have fraudulently received housing subsidies.
The unit has identified 53 000 public servants as receiving housing subsidies, for which more than 31 000 did not qualify.
A two-day meeting was held at Bela Bela in Limpopo between the provincial housing minister, housing practitioners and politicians from all municipalities in the province. The state of housing delivery and plans to help delivery in the province were tabled at the meeting.
To root out corruption inside the department, Mokonyane said, ”disciplinary action will be taken against fraudulent officials. Developers engaged in fraud will have criminal charges laid against them.”
Housing department spokesperson Aviva Manqa said the department has forged partnerships with banking institutions to help fast-track housing delivery.
”Our plans to fast-track housing relate to partnerships we have with banks. They are prepared to take the risk and will be paid only in the next financial year,” he said.
Manqa said the plan is not only for low-cost housing, but also for the eradication of informal settlements. Hostels and mixed houses are being developed, Manqa added. — Sapa