Dept launches initiative to tackle backlog

AS THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements grapples with a housing backlog in the province, they plan to embark on a new initiative aimed at forging formal partnerships with business leaders, philanthropists, and nonprofit organisations.

- SIPHO JACK

This ambitious programme seeks to create a structured approach to alleviate the plight of vulnerable individuals in need of decent housing.

The urgency stems from the fact that the number on the provincial waiting list for government-funded houses exceeds a million residents, and more than 1 000 informal settlements in KZN.

To set the plan in motion, the department has announced the establishment of a comprehensive database of interested parties willing to contribute to the construction of homes for those facing dire living conditions.

"Our appreciation goes to individuals and groups who continue to exercise their social responsibility by providing decent shelter to the needy," the department stated.