Human Settlements policies rolled out to municipalities

The Department of Human Settlements has embarked a programme to popularise its guiding policies to local municipalities across the province. The programme was initiated to ensure that officials within municipalities have a clear understanding of Human Settlements policies and that they adhered to, from the municipality level.

The first workshop was held recently at the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district which include Naledi, Taung, Kagisano Molopo, Mamusa and Lekwa Teemane local municipalities. The programme is mainly to ensure that both municipalities and the provincial department are on the same wave length when coming to the implementation of Human Settlements policies.

According to the Human Settlements, deputy director of Research and Policy Development Kealeboga Maloka, most cases municipalities provide the same services with municipalities. “It is against this background that we introduce municipal officials to our policies. The gesture will ensure integrated service delivery and to further ensure that information is properly disseminated to communities.

We believe that such programmes are very vital to municipalities as they are at a services delivery level. The process is more empowering and is more pivotal to communities, as it contains their rights”, said Maloka.

Municipalities among others render Human Settlements services such as, application for low cost houses, Rental housing tribunal services, Identification of informal settlements, identification of disaster services and referral to different government departments, provision of services like water and electricity to the newly established settlements and many others.

Source: Government of South Africa