The Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements intends to focus its activities on the creation of integrated human settlements boasting full services. It has a number of programmes to assist in providing equitable access to housing.

Mandate
The department has a new mandate which requires it to refocus on the delivery of human settlements in an integrated and sustainable manner. This will see the robust engagement of all stakeholders to realise proper settlements planning and basic services provision. Furthermore, the department is mandated to ensure the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals, which relate to access to clean water and decent sanitation by 2010, with all households having access to water by 2012 and the eradication of informal settlements by 2014.

Vision
Sustainable integrated human settlements

Mission
To facilitate the creation of integrated human settlements

Description of main activities
Key delivery activities in the next three years will be the establishment of integrated human settlement projects – otherwise referred to as Breaking New Ground (BNG) – at Klarinet-eMalahleni, Balfour-Dipaleseng and Lydenburg-Thaba Chweu municipalities. The delivery of these three-year mega projects will boast full services like water, electricity and business site infrastructure, and will accommodate a total of 2 500 households in bonded upmarket houses, middle-income houses, fully subsidised houses and affordable rental stock and apartments.

Programmes
The department has range programmes aimed at improving the lives of needy and qualifying beneficiaries. These include Rural Housing, Emergency Housing Assistance, People’s Housing Process, Farm Worker Assistance, Informal Settlements Upgrading and Community Residential Units among others. A number of these programmes are listed below.

1. Financial intervention
The financial intervention programmes facilitate immediate access to housing goods and services thereby creating an enabling environment and providing implementation support.
• Individual Housing Subsidies (credit and non-credit linked)
• Enhanced Extended Discount Benefit Scheme
• Social and Economic Facilities
• Accreditation of Municipalities
• Operational Capital Budget
• Housing Chapters of IDPs
• Rectification of pre-1994 housing stock

2. Incremental housing programmes
The department offers programmes facilitating access to housing opportunities through a phased process.
• Integrated Residential Development Programme
° Phase 1: Land, services and township proclamation
° Phase 2: Housing construction and individual ownership options
• People’s Housing Process
• Informal Settlement Upgrading
• Consolidation Subsidies
• Emergency Housing Assistance

3. Social and rental housing programmes
A number of programmes facilitate access to rental housing opportunities, supporting urban restructuring and integration.
• Institutional Subsidies
• Social Housing
• Community Residential Units

4. Rural housing programmes
These programmes facilitate access to housing opportunities in rural areas.
• Rural Subsidy: Informal Land Rights
• Farm Worker Assistance

Key personnel:
Madala Masuku, MEC
David Dube, Head of Department
Key contact people:
Cyril Dlamini, Chief Financial Officer
Tommy Malapane, Chief Director Corporate Services (Acting)
Freddy Ngobe, Director Communications (Acting)
Tel: +27 13 766 6088
Fax: +27 13 766 8441
Email: flngobe@mpg.gov.za or osingwane@mpg.gov.za
Physical address: Building No 7, Extension 2, No 7 Government Boulevard, Riverside Park, Nelspruit 1200
Postal address: Private Bag X 11328, Nelspruit 1200
Website: http://dhs.mpg.gov.za