The Provincial Department of Human Settlements exceeded its job-creation targets by creating 881 new employment opportunities, according to its 2021/2022 Annual Report. In addition, the provincial department received an unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor-General of South Africa.
The DA in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament commends the Department for going above and beyond to create job opportunities as well as the provision of 159 skills training opportunities for young people in the province during the financial period under review — this despite the country being in the middle of an economic and unemployment crisis.
MPP Matlhodi Maseko says, “The Department of Human Settlements has played a significant role in enabling and contributing to the recovery of the Western Cape economy. The Department has contributed to a significant number of job opportunities for locals in the locations where housing projects were completed throughout the province.
Approximately 68.67% of the Human Settlement Development Grant (HSDG) was spent on Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMM) with 14.50% and 6.18% of that amount going to contractors who represent women and youth, respectively. This further exemplifies how the department has followed through on its promise to actively support the growth of small enterprises in the Western Cape led by young people and women.
The Department did not only create opportunities in the form of employment but also delivered in its most crucial task: housing delivery. The highlights for the 2021/22 financial year included:
- 1 620 affordable housing opportunities (FLISP);
- 3 973 serviced sites delivered; and
- 4 571 fully subsided housing opportunities (BNGs)
While the Department continues to invest a great deal of effort into bringing dignity to people’s lives through housing opportunities, it is gratifying to observe the contribution it continues to make towards job creation and economic upliftment.”