REATHA ACQUISITION AND
MANAGEMENT (PTY)Ltd
Presentation to the Portfolio
Committee for Housing on the Housing Development Agency Bill
developing
countries have had mixed results in attaining their goals of improving access
to shelter for low-income households. Drawing upon evidence from
sustainable
and habitable to the basic original goal of delivering affordable housing. The
priorities of the plan are to:
§
accelerate delivery of housing within the context of sustainable human
settlements;
§
provision of housing within human settlements
§
provide quality housing to turn homes into assets;
§
create a single, efficient formal housing market; and
§
abolish apartheid spatial planning thereby restructuring and integrating human
settlements.
The housing
backlog continues to grow despite the delivery of 1,831 million subsidised
houses between 1994 and March 2005, as well as the servicing of 57 065 new
sites and the building of 52 548 houses between April and September 2005
The
department has started simplifying the administration of housing subsidies to
accelerate housing delivery. The income qualification categories have been
collapsed to allow all qualifying households to receive the same subsidy.
The number of active NGOs in the
housing sector has declined dramatically in recent years. The Urban Sector
Network was dissolved in 2005 and many of its former affiliates have since
disbanded. This has eroded institutional capacity in the housing sector and
weakens housing delivery by reducing capacity for advocacy and community
consultation.In the short to medium term, the department has identified a
number of NGOs in various provinces and is working closely with these NGOs to
support their efforts in building a cohesive NGO Housing sector in
16. We are determined to
ensure that our rich diversity, which is our collective strength, will be used
for constructive partnership for change and for the achievement of the common
goal of sustainable development.
17. Recognizing the
importance of building human solidarity, we urge the promotion of dialogue and
cooperation among the world’s civilizations and peoples, irrespective of race,
disabilities, religion, language, culture and tradition.
18. We welcome the
Johannesburg Summit focus on the indivisibility of human dignity and are
resolved through decisions on targets, timetables and partnerships to speedily
increase access to basic requirements such as clean water, sanitation, adequate
shelter, energy, health care, food security and the protection of
bio-diversity. At the same time, we will work together to assist one another to
have access to financial resources, benefit from the opening of markets, ensure
capacity building, use modern technology to bring about development, and make
sure that there is technology transfer, human resource development, education
and training to banish forever underdevelopment.
19. We reaffirm our pledge
to place particular focus on, and give priority attention to, the fight against
the worldwide conditions that pose severe threats to the sustainable
development of our people. Among these conditions are: chronic hunger;
malnutrition; foreign occupation; armed conflicts; illicit drug problems;
organized crime; corruption; natural disasters; illicit arms trafficking;
trafficking in persons; terrorism; intolerance and incitement to racial,
ethnic, religious and other hatreds; xenophobia; and endemic, communicable and
chronic diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
20. We are committed to
ensure that women’s empowerment and emancipation, and gender equality are
integrated in all activities encompassed within Agenda 21, the Millennium
Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
21. We recognize the
reality that global society has the means and is endowed with the resources to
address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development
confronting all humanity. Together we will take extra steps to ensure that
these available resources are used to the benefit of humanity.
22. In this regard, to
contribute to the achievement of our development goals and targets, we urge
developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts towards the
internationally agreed levels of Official Development Assistance.
23. We welcome and support
the emergence of stronger regional groupings and alliances, such as the New
Partnership for
24. We shall continue to
pay special attention to the developmental needs of
25. We reaffirm the vital
role of the indigenous peoples in sustainable development.
26. We recognize
sustainable development requires a long-term perspective and broad-based
participation in policy formulation, decision-making and implementation at all
levels. As social partners we will continue to work for stable partnerships
with all major groups respecting the independent, important roles of each of
these.
27. We agree that in
pursuit of their legitimate activities the private sector, both large and small
companies, have a duty to contribute to the evolution of equitable and
sustainable communities and societies.
28. We also agree to
provide assistance to increase income generating employment opportunities,
taking into account the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration of
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
29. We agree that there is
a need for private sector corporations to enforce corporate accountability.
This should take place within a transparent and stable regulatory environment.
30. We undertake to strengthen
and improve governance at all levels, for the effective implementation of
Agenda 21, the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation.
Multilateralism is the
Future
31. To achieve our goals of
sustainable development, we need more effective, democratic and accountable
international and multilateral institutions.
32. We reaffirm our
commitment to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and international
law as well as the strengthening of multi-lateralism. We support the leadership
role of the United Nations as the most universal and representative
organization in the world, which is best placed to
promote sustainable development.
33. We further commit
ourselves to monitor progress at regular intervals towards the achievement of
our sustainable development goals and objectives.
34. We are in agreement
that this must be an inclusive process, involving all the major groups and
governments that participated in the historic Johannesburg Summit.
35. We commit ourselves to
act together, united by a common determination to save our planet, promote
human development and achieve universal prosperity and peace.
36. We commit ourselves to
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and to expedite the achievement of the
time-bound, socio-economic and environmental targets contained therein.
37. From the African
continent, the Cradle of Humankind, we solemnly pledge to the peoples of the
world, and the generations that will surely inherit this earth, that we are
determined to ensure that our collective hope for sustainable development is
realized.
We express our deepest
gratitude to the people and the Government of South Africa for their generous
hospitality and excellent arrangements made for the World Summit on Sustainable
Development.
Source: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/
documents/summit_docs/1009wssd_pol_declaration.doc