Department of Human Settlements (South Africa)

Department of Human Settlements (South Africa)
Agency name	Department of Human Settlements
Formed	2009
Preceding1	Department of Housing (South Africa)
Jurisdiction	Government of South Africa
Headquarters	Pretoria

Department of Human Settlements (South Africa) The Department of Human Settlements is a national South African executive department responsible for housing policy and delivery, established in 2009 during executive reorganization under the Presidency of Jacob Zuma, with antecedents in the Department of Housing (South Africa) and policy roots in the Rural Development and Land Reform (South Africa) debates and the post‑apartheid reconstruction efforts following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It operates within the framework of the Constitution of South Africa and interacts with entities including the National Treasury (South Africa), the South African Local Government Association, and provincial departments such as the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements.

History

The department was created by executive decision in 2009 as part of cabinet restructuring under President Jacob Zuma, succeeding functions from the former Department of Housing (South Africa) and aligning policy directions set by ministers like Lindiwe Sisulu and Tokyo Sexwale, reflecting continuity from early post‑apartheid housing frameworks such as the Reconstruction and Development Programme and the Breaking New Ground (BNG) policy. Its evolution intersected with parliamentary oversight by the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements and legal developments influenced by judgments from the Constitutional Court of South Africa, while interacting with housing finance instruments like the National Housing Finance Corporation and delivery partners including municipal authorities in City of Johannesburg and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

Mandate and Functions

The department's statutory mandate derives from the Constitution of South Africa and national legislation including the Housing Code (South Africa) and directives issued by the Minister of Human Settlements (South Africa), with responsibilities to develop policy, oversee subsidy programs such as the Rural Subsidy Grant and the Human Settlements Development Grant, coordinate with the National Housing Finance Corporation and the Public Works and Infrastructure (South Africa), and to facilitate delivery via partnerships with state entities like the Social Housing Regulatory Authority and private sector stakeholders including the National Home Builders Registration Council.

Organizational Structure

Administratively the department is led by the Minister of Human Settlements (South Africa) supported by a Deputy Minister of Human Settlements (South Africa), with a Director‑General overseeing divisions responsible for policy, finance, human resources, and delivery, and associated bodies such as the National Home Builders Registration Council, the Social Housing Regulatory Authority, and provincial human settlements departments in regions like KwaZulu‑Natal and the Eastern Cape (province). The department reports to Parliament through mechanisms including the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements and works with the National Treasury (South Africa), metropolitan municipalities such as the City of Cape Town, and statutory regulators like the Financial Sector Conduct Authority when coordinating housing finance.

Policies and Programs

Policy frameworks administered include the Breaking New Ground (BNG) policy, the Integrated Urban Development Framework, and national housing subsidies including the People's Housing Process and Social Housing Programmes, implemented alongside initiatives such as the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) and partnerships with development finance institutions like the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the National Housing Finance Corporation. Program delivery links with provincial projects in places like Soweto, Khayelitsha, and Tembisa and interacts with legislation such as the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act and the Rental Housing Act (South Africa) when regulating practitioners like the National Home Builders Registration Council.

Funding and Budget

Funding for the department is allocated through the annual appropriation process administered by the National Treasury (South Africa), debated in the National Assembly of South Africa and overseen by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (South Africa) and the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, with expenditure comprising transfers to provincial departments such as the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, municipal grant programmes in metropolitan areas like eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, and capital allocations for projects supported by entities including the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Industrial Development Corporation (South Africa).

Criticism and Controversies

The department has faced scrutiny from civil society organisations such as SACN and advocacy groups like the South African Homeless People's Federation, legal challenges brought to the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and investigative attention from the Auditor‑General of South Africa and the Public Protector (South Africa), concerning issues including delivery shortfalls in informal settlements, alleged irregular expenditure, controversies over procurement involving contractors in provinces like Gauteng and KwaZulu‑Natal, and debates on policy shifts under ministers including Lindiwe Sisulu and Nomaindiya Mfeketo.

Key Projects and Initiatives

Major initiatives include the national roll‑out of the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP), projects in large metropoles such as City of Johannesburg housing developments, social housing projects regulated by the Social Housing Regulatory Authority in areas like Alexandra, integrated human settlements projects aligned with the Integrated Development Plan processes of municipalities like the City of Cape Town, and collaborations with finance and development partners including the National Housing Finance Corporation, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme on technical support and capacity building.

Category:Government of South Africa Category:Housing in South Africa