South Africa’s housing shortfall stands at approximately 2 million homes. At the same time, the country needs sustainable job creation as well as transformation. The social housing industry has the potential to contribute by supporting new and upcoming social housing institutions (SHIs) and helping them roll out new social housing developments. In light of this, the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) has implemented new measures which will assist and support the new SHIs to enter the market, equipped with the right skills. “There are many opportunities for people in the social housing sector. With the SHRA’s new Compliance Accreditation & Regulations operational framework, we are creating a more supportive, enabling and inclusive accreditation process for SHIs,” explains Dewalt Koekemoer, Acting CEO of the SHRA.
At the centre of the rising demand for urban human settlement land is the rapid rise of urbanisation. Urbanisation is not a uniquely South African or African phenomenon, it is a global issue that requires urgent attention. In our country, the majority of the poor people who migrate to cities end up in informal settlements, either adding to the already overcrowded settlements or establishing new settlement through illegal land occupation.
The Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) welcomed the measures announced at a recent media briefing by the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, which aim to expedite the implementation of diverse social housing and other projects under the Department’s portfolio, and to broaden access to social housing for more South Africans. Commenting on the media briefing, which was held on 25 March 2022, Ms Busisiwe Nzo, chairperson of the SHRA, said that the organisation’s newly appointed council, together with the SHRA executives, is most excited to be working with the Department to develop a social housing sector that is not only more transformed and sustainable, but also inclusive for many more South Africans who are in dire need of quality social housing.
“I have said that wrongdoing and corruption will be dealt with without fear or favour, and I encourage those with any evidence of wrongdoing to take the information to law enforcement agencies,” Ku.