Dept gets unqualified report

2008-12-02 21:01

Johannesburg - The Auditor-General has given the Gauteng Housing Department an unqualified report.

"We have spent money efficiently, competently, and cost-effectively," said spokesperson Aviva Manqa on Tuesday.

In a press release, Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane said the unqualified report demonstrated that the department had committed "considerable effort at all levels to improve our financial management capability".

The press release said that Mokonyane and her department were promising that 14 development projects would be completed by 2014, resulting in over 150 000 new housing units. These projects sought to integrate communities socially and encourage economic development.

The department also says it has so far provided a total of 63 484 houses by March this year as well as providing water and sanitation.

"These successes and achievements have been as a result of the active participation of our municipalities as well as an active role played by the private sector, particularly the financial institutions," said Mokonyane.

The department says that 24 informal settlements are currently being dismantled and that services are being implemented for 56 settlements which are home to 380 000 people.

"Our goal is to provide necessary services and tenure for about 710 000 people by 2009."

This would lead to the erasure of informal settlements in Gauteng by 2014, said Mokonyane.

- SAPA