Welcome to our quarterly newsletter of 2017 - updating and informing you, our stakeholders, about our activities and projects. The Housing Development Agency (HDA) is a national public sector development agency that acquires and prepares land as well as develop the land and project manage the development of housing and human settlements. We carry out our activities in partnership with a range of stakeholders including national, provincial and local government and municipalities, as well as with communities, developers, financiers and other affected parties. Established in 2009, the Agency is established by an Act of Parliament in 2008 and is accountable through its board to the Minister of Human Settlements. For more information about the HDA, please visit our website: www.thehda.co.za.
Dear Stakeholders
The HDA has been abuzz with much activity as we closed off the 2016/17 financial year. This has largely been due to the finalisation of the Catalytic Projects Programme that has necessitated extensive consultation with other government spheres and institutions. The process has culminated in a detailed implementation plan that has been tabled at various structures for inputs and sign-off. As we wrapped up the reporting period, we had concluded the "administrative" process around the implementation plan.
On the 21st of November 2016 we hosted our first Annual Developers' Roundtable where our revised mandate as an agency was made public. We are pleased to say that we are indeed in full steam as far as our institutional arrangements are concerned. We have repositioned the agency with the requisite personnel and skills it needs to dispose of its developer role.
In November 2016, the (national Department of Human Settlements) nDHS together with the Human Settlements Ministers and Members of Executive Councils meeting (MINMEC) approved for delivery a pipeline of 48 government-led projects as national priority human settlements projects. These form part of the catalytic projects programme.
The 48 government-led catalytic projects were approved by MINMEC. The HDA will assist the provincial departments and municipalities with the implementation of these catalytic projects. Over and above the HDA's role as a programme manager, our role will range from the repackaging of some projects to that of a developer and an implementer of the entire project.
During her stakeholder session, post the recent Budget Vote, the Honourable Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, expressed her expectations of what these projects should achieve. We remain committed to meeting these outocmes and we have put our shoulder to the wheel. Central to our developer role is the need to increase our provincial visibility and to improve how we interface with our stakeholders both within government and the private sector. To this end, during the third quarter of 2016, we launched a Strategic Initiatives Unit. This unit, staffed by private sector industry specialists, is tasked with identifying potential and strategic partnerships across the entire value chain of integrated human settlements developments. Besides providing subject matter expertise to all other units within the HDA, the unit has, to date, reviewed more than 80 potential partnership opportunities, including co-development, land availability agreements, local and international funding options, deal facilitation, strategic property acquisitions and developments. Many of these agendas have since progressed to the point of imminent implementation.
The private sector and, more broadly, local authorities have embraced this initiative with open arms, giving us the impetus to continue identifying, negotiating and implementing key strategic partnerships across the entire human settlements value chain. Key achievements to date include the conclusion of a partnership with one of South Africa's largest investment and asset managers for the co-development, funding and implementation of 13 properties owned by the respective asset manager. The properties will ultimately cater for a broad spectrum of human settlements beneficiaries. In short, our developer role is indeed taking shape!
Last year's Govan Mbeki Awards had a good showing of HDA led and managed projects, and we look forward to seeing more of our contractors being recognised for the excellent work they continue to deliver. We remain encouraged by the engagement we had in Nelson Mandela Bay with SMME contractors. While we acknowledge that a lot of work remains to be done, it was definitely a good start. Soon, we will be going out and meeting various stakeholders to share our transformation agenda and to delve into greater detail about the implementation plan of the catalytic projects programme.
We look forward to sharing with you, our stakeholders, our achievements as we unfold our Annual Performance Plan for the financial year and encourage you to interact with us via our website and share any thoughts and ideas that will add value to what we do.
Best Regards,
Pascal Moloi (CEO)
The HDA land acquisition programme exceeds expectations
In recent months, we have thrived in our mandate to identify, acquire and develop state, communal and privately owned land for the creation of sustainable human settlements with the acquisition of more land than had originally been targeted for the annual period.
We are responsible for reporting on Outcome 8, which relates to land release, and have targeted 10 000 hectares for the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) period.
Surpassing our own expectations in the past year, the Agency has managed to exceed the annual target of 3000 hectares by an additional 3250 hectares to achieve a total of 6248 hectares.
We have also further surpassed the MTSF target of 10 000 hectares by 35% to achieve a cumulative total of 13 507,8554 hectares of land acquired and released.
Acquisitions In The City Of Cape Town
Of significance were two parcels of land acquired within the City of Cape Town measuring 6,1984 hectares that were released directly to the HDA by the National Department of Public Works as well as 56,344 hectares of SOC land that was also donated to the HDA by South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) for human settlements development.
Acqusitions In The North-west
The Agency further registered transfers of over 40 properties in the North-West Province including Sunway Village to Madibeng Municipality, 12 stands purchased from Anglo Gold and another property donated by Lonmin to Rustenburg Municipality.
HDA Assists With Temporary Shelters In Western Cape Fire Affected Areas
Between Wednesday, 7 June 2017, and Saturday, 10 June 2017, storm-wind-driven fires raged through the towns of George, Knysna and Bitou, leaving a costly trail of destruction. Propelled by wind speeds of between 50 and 70 kilometres per hour, the fires caused structural damage to both residential dwellings and municipal infrastructure.
The disaster was quickly followed by a Special Minister and Members of Executive Council (MINMEC) Meeting on 27 June 2017, which saw the HDA receiving a mandate to develop a Disaster Response Plan for affected human settlements. The plan measured the extent and scale of the damage done across the affected areas, ensure categorisation of the damage dealt to the affected areas and assess the levels of intervention required. The HDA has also initiated a process of developing a comprehensive business plan that focuses on human settlement disaster intervention and redevelopment to facilitate the speedy rebuilding of residential properties in the affected areas.
The disaster was quickly followed by a Special Minister and Members of Executive Council (MINMEC) Meeting on 27 June 2017, which saw the HDA receiving a mandate to develop a Disaster Response Plan for affected human settlements. The plan measured the extent and scale of the damage done across the affected areas, ensure categorisation of the damage dealt to the affected areas and assess the levels of intervention required. The HDA has also initiated a process of developing a comprehensive business plan that focuses on human settlement disaster intervention and redevelopment to facilitate the speedy rebuilding of residential properties in the affected areas.
Temporary Residence Areas (TRAs)
Among the main outcomes of the MINMEC meeting was the establishment of TRAs for affected communities that will house homeless residents in the interim. Prior to any development intervention in informal settlements, however, it was decided that a detailed assessment of the site will need to be done to identify the areas that are suitable for human settlements and those that do not qualify to be serviced. This will aid municipalities in dealing with human settlements in a way that is better co-ordinated and integrated.
Prioritising Safe Structures
It was also noted in the recent engagements that the types of temporary structures used in Knysna and the Emergency Intervention in George pose a fire danger and need to be reviewed. Different structure options are currently under consideration.
To get the ball rolling, a high-level implementation plan has been tabled that proposes a set of actions intended to help rebuild the damaged structures. This plan includes actions such as site verification; revised cost estimates; prioritisation for implementation, disaster rehabilitation as well as the establishment of TRAs. The plan was finalised in the month of July.
Deputy Ministers Congratulate HDAs On Heuningvlei Housing Project
Human Settlements Deputy Minister Zou Kota-Fredericks and Department of Mineral Resources, Godfrey Oliphant recently joined with the MEC for Human Settlements and Local Government in the Northern Cape, Alvin Botes to congratulate the HDA on its work in the provision of new homes to the people of Heuningvlei village in the Northern Cape.
"The work being done and the progress being made by the HDA is a true reflection of government commitment to eradicating poverty, unemployment and inequality through the provision of quality homes, thus building a better Africa and a better world", said Deputy Minister Kota-Fredericks.
The HDA was commissioned by the Department of Mineral Resources to assist with the construction of houses and the relocation of 22 households from an asbestos contaminated site to an area deemed un-contaminated. The Department of Mineral Resources completed phase 1 of rehabilitating the area and also developed house plans for the beneficiaries. The HDA is the implementing agency responsible for managing the construction of the houses.
Phase 2 includes the relocation and construction of the 22 houses for the affected households and the upgrade of the Tribal Authority Facility. Beneficiaries will receive houses similar to the ones in which they are currently living and, once the project is complete, will be more integrated with the rest of the Heuningvlei Community.
The project is a direct positive response to the housing needs of the "gap market" those who neither qualify for the fully subsidised housing programme nor qualify for the bonded houses. It was developed under the Social Housing Policy for households with monthly incomes between R1500 to R7500.
Minister Sisulu Spends Mandela Day Handing Over Houses To Military Veterans
"We commit ourselves to cooperate with the HDA and the community in the delivery of these houses."
The atmosphere at the Chatty 491 Military Veterans Project was alight with excitement on Mandela Day as Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu visited the area to hand over new homes to veterans from various liberation movements.
The minister performed the official handover of the completed units on the project and interacted with veterans in their new homes before addressing the community at large. Chatty 491 forms part of the Zanemvula Mega Project and, once complete, will be made up of 491 houses occupied by military veterans from various movements.
Addressing the community, the Minister emphasized the importance of cooperation between her department and the Housing Development Agency to see the project through to completion.
"We commit ourselves to cooperate with the HDA and the community in the delivery of these houses," she said to the audience of veterans and community members.
"We will also do all in our power to help speed things up."Minister Sisulu also urged the community to stop vandalism and to cooperate with the agencies working in the area.
"This is a clear expression of our stated commitment to advance radical socio-economic transformation." Said the President.
One of the beneficiaries, Andile Solo - an Azanian National Liberty Army (AZANLA) veteran - joined the youth organisation Azanian Youth Organisation (AZAYO) before joining BCMA in 1990. He was trained by AZANLA in Zimbabwe and returned in 1991. He was arrested in 1992 and sentenced to 22 years and 6 months only to be granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995.
Some of the other veterans who received houses on the day included Wandisile Ngada-Ngedane (71), also an AZANLA veteran, and Sipho Nodlawu, an Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) veteran.
Map Of The Quater
Joe Slovo Informal Settlement Upgrade
The N2 Gateway project is located along the N2 highway in Cape Town, South Africa (fig. 1). This project is comprised of various sub-projects, including Joe Slovo, which was established to provide housing opportunities to the Joe Slovo informal settlement and backyard dwellers in the Langa area (fig. 2). As shown in the Google Earth image (fig. 2), the Joe Slovo project has a mixture of formal, informal and temporary living structures.
We have played a pivotal role in upgrading the informal settlement to formalised structures. In the 2016/17 financial year, we delivered 250 units in Joe Slovo and an additional 1 075 units in the rest of the N2 Gateway, thus exceeding our targets.
