The provision of housing opportunities and allocation of houses continues to be a cause for concern in the Emalahleni Local Municipality. This is asserted from the point of view that the National Housing Programs for the public are a key element in addressing the housing needs and backlogs of Emalahleni. Hence, the selection and allocation of beneficiaries for state-subsidized housing opportunities is the responsibility of the municipality.

 

The current municipal housing allocation system targets the poor who, without the government housing subsidy, would be without homes. It is, therefore, through the housing allocation process that access to housing for the vulnerable/poor, or indigent groups (low-income groups), is facilitated by the municipality.

 

On the other hand, the current municipal allocation process does not distinctly make provision for a range of housing opportunities that cut across all income groups that fall within the low-to-middle-to-high income thresholds, and who do not qualify for a full government subsidy, for example, “The Gap Market”.

 

Therefore, to ensure that a transparent and equitable process is followed in this regard, the municipality developed a housing allocation policy in 2008. The Policy was last reviewed in 2013 and is currently outdated. It is for this reason, therefore, that the Housing Allocation Policy is being reviewed, and to further align it to the recently developed Provincial Framework, “The Provincial Beneficiary Management and Housing Allocation Framework”. The Provincial Department of Human Settlements requires municipalities to align their housing allocation processes to the Framework, over and above the alignment to the National Department of Human Settlements policies.

It is against this backdrop that the Emalahleni Local Municipality Housing Allocation Policy was reviewed. Any comments or additions can be emailed to nxumalonm@emalahleni.gov.za or strydomjp@emalahleni.gov.za on or before 30 August 2024.

 

Yours truthfully