TABLE OF CONTENTS DESCRIPTION SECT.NO. Executive Summary Acknowledgements Purpose & Objectives 1 Methodology 2 Data Collection Process 2.2 Hlabisa Demographics 3 Physical Conditions 4 Climate 4.2 Rainfall 4.3 Temperatures 4.4 Winds 4.5 Topography 4.6 Geology 4.7 Hydrology 4.8 Ground Water 4.9 Vegetation 4.10 Grassland 4.11 Wetlands 4.12 Crops 4.13 Spatial Development Framework 5.0 Bulk & Internal Infrastructure Influencing Spatial Development 5.1 Electricity 5.1.1 Roads 5.1.2 Roads & Economic Benefit 5.1.3 Storm water 5.1.4 Water Supply 5.1.5 Housing Demand 6.0 Current Provincial Housing Subsidy Quarter 6.1 Current Provincial Housing Packages 6.2 Slums Clearance 6.2.1 Rural Housing 6.2.2 2 Violently Damaged Houses 6.2.3 Credit Linked Subsidy 6.2.4 Hostel Upgrade 6.2.5 Rental Stock Process Followed in Packaging Rural Housing Projects 6.3 Subsidy 6.3.1 Social Compact Agreement 6.3.2 The Traditional Authority 6.3.4 The Developer 6.3.5 Tenure 6.3.6 Current Settlement Pattern 6.4 Current Housing Structures 6.5 Ward By Ward Housing Demand 6.6 Land Use Management 7.0 Form of Tenure 7.1 Land Claims 7.2 Strategy For Meeting Housing Demand within Hlabisa 8.0 3 Prioritization of Housing Projects 8.2 Cash flows 8.3 Integration With Other Sectors 9.0 District Municipality 9.1 Provincial Department of Land Affairs 9.2 Provincial Department of Housing 9.3 Provincial Department of Public Works 9.4 Project Packaging Process 10.0 Process Indicators: Linkages between Issues & Strategies 11.0 Implementation Process of Planned Projects 12.0 Monitoring of Housing Projects 13.0 Management Structure 14.0 Technical Operational Structure 15.0 Proposed Policy on Rental Stock 16.0 Conclusions & Recommendations 17.0 Reference Section Addendum Section 4 ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CEC Committee for Environmental Co-ordination CMIP Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Program DFA Development Facilitation Act DM District Municipality DoH Department of Housing ECA Environmental Conservation Act EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EPWP Expanded Public Works Program GIS Geographic Information System IDP Integrated Development Plan KPI Key Performance Indicators LAA Land Availability Agreement LED Local Economic Development LGTA Local Government Transitional Act LUMS Land Use Management System LM Local Municipality 5 MIG Municipal Infrastructure Grant NEMA National Environmental Management Act NEAF National Environmental Advisory Forum NHBRC National Home Builders Registration Council NIT Natal Ingonyama Trust PHP People’s Housing Process SDF Spatial Development Framework SCA Social Compact Act 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY According to the revised IDP document, the vision of Hlabisa Municipality is: “The eradication of poverty by 2015 through cooperativeness and efficient utilization of scarce resources”. In terms of Section 84 of the Municipal Structures Act, 1992 clarified in the Government Gazette of 05 December 2002, the “Confirmation of the status quo in respect of provision of housing”, forms a major mandate of the Hlabisa Municipality.” The housing component forms part of the development objectives of the Hlabisa Municipality and the ultimate goal of the municipality is the provision of housing to more 12000 deserving households. Throughout this document this aspect of housing component has been dealt with in great detail. This took the following format: Consideration of population demographics, which served to highlight varying information on Hlabisa community, was done. However of great concern is the rapid increase in Aids cases as well as death rates, which threatens the social fiber of the community as it appears to affect economic active group. In preparation of this housing plan, using demographics, it was established that Hlabisa municipality has a great task ahead of providing housing to about 12335 households over a period of five years. The majority of these beneficiaries is unemployed and would require full subsidization. In addition to the above it was established that Hlabisa Municipality is purely a rural municipality hence the development of the housing process should be insitu and be rural housing so as to avoid urban sprawl that is discouraged by the National Department of Housing. Break down of housing projects per Traditional Authority was done and these were broken down into phases in terms of implementation. Estimates based on the current housing subsidy bands was done and it is estimated that a total of R350 million would be required by the municipality in order to implement the proposed housing projects. 7 Ultimately, the municipality should be self-sustaining hence the need for collection of rates for services rendered; in the planning process rental stock has been included as one form of collection of rates. As a provider of basic service to the community it serves, the municipality has to take into consideration the plight of the disabled the orphans as well as those suffering or affected by HIV/AIDS, this has been done by including housing projects which specifically address these special needs. One of the mandates of the municipality is to develop the communities economically by identifying anchor sectors and increase in spending towards local economic development. Among the areas visited was AbakwaHlabisa Traditional Authority, Mdletsheni Traditional Authority and Mpukunyoni Traditional Authority and a few others were identified as having potential for cattle farming, Piggery, chicken farming, and community garden. Finally a proposed management structure for the projects has been included, which ensure proper monitoring and implementation of the proposed housing projects. 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Greetings, This strategic housing document seeks to indicate the current housing situation within Hlabisa Municipality. Secondly it highlights whether the Municipality has got any projects currently underway or not. Thirdly, the housing plan focuses on all other issues that affect or would affect provision of houses to the community of Hlabisa in a phased way so that eventually every deserving beneficiary gets a proper shelter, which forms part of his/her right enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of South Africa. Since housing is a fifth priority within the IDP of Hlabisa Municipality, it is imperative to note that the first priority is interlinked to housing and can not be addressed without first attending to this issue i.e. “The study recommended four basic development approaches in respect of housing. The first of these is to address the backlogs in basic services, particularly water and sanitation. Added to this is the poor surface quality of roads in the rural areas”. (IDP Review 2006/2007). The Municipality is of the opinion that the issue of addressing backlog must be intertwined with the skills development and economic upliftment hence sustainable housing development programmes highlighted in priority two. This document does not therefore substitute the IDP document but seeks to expand on the housing component, thus scheduling housing projects classifying them in different categories and spreading their implementation over a period of five years, thus addressing the aspect of shortage of more than 12000 housing units, in so doing creating more than 20 000 jobs through housing construction and thus generating an income of more than R200 Million for the Hlabisa community. As this product is an input from all stakeholders i.e. The Hlabisa Municipality, the Community and the Provincial Housing Department, we would like to express our sense of gratitude at your constructive criticism and contributions. Dr Ntombela’s hard work and knowledge of the community and structures is also acknowledged. The outgoing Ms. Zulu’s readiness to provide vital information and her persistence, consistence her will and drive is 9 highly appreciated and believe that their involvement in this project has contributed something to their body of knowledge. This strategic plan would be revisited every year and be adjusted in accordance with the National, Provincial requirements, District requirements Municipality requirements and community needs as well as the IDP document. An advertisement for comments on the hosing plan (which was left at municipal housing office, reception area), was put on the Ilanga Newspaper for three weeks. However no comments were received hence the finalization of the housing plan. Thank you, ____________ ______________ ___________ Municipal Manager Corporate Services Chairperson Director Housing Portfolio Committee 10 1.0 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES An environmental analysis of Hlabisa has been carried out in detail with the objective of developing a housing plan that would guide the municipality in planning and implementing its housing projects in order to over come the housing backlog it is currently faced with. The process followed in this development included consideration of the following elements amongst others; Exploring various housing development packages within Hlabisa Conducting a brief topographical survey Establishing housing demand within the municipality Establishing availability of infrastructure to support various housing projects. Determining the extent of the area available for housing activities; Identifying and verify perceptions and views about government rural hosing in rural areas; Prioritizing housing projects Preparation of this housing plan is a requirement in terms of the revised procedures established in Chapter 3 of the National Housing Code. This is also in line with the Municipal Systems Act of