Human Settlements South Africa: Human Settlements - housing officials cited on R18m fraud
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
THE Department of Human Settlements is disciplining more than 1300 housing officials who defrauded the housing subsidy system to the tune of R18million.Human settlements director-general Itumeleng Kotsoane told Parliament’s human settlements committee yesterday that the special investigations unit had finalised 513 cases involving civil servants – many of whom were convicted.The errant officials who “defrauded the housing subsidy system” have signed more than 1440 acknowledgements of debt to the value of R18399778 .The officials have paid government back R1,8million so far, Kotsoane said. A further 795 officials are currently facing disciplinary action. Kotsoane told the committee that the spiralling costs of housing material posed a “huge problem” to the government.He said the Competition Commission’s investigation of possible cartels in suppliers of construction materials such as stock bricks and cement will help reduce the costs of building houses in the future.Meanwhile, members of Parliament urged Kotsoane to check that quality houses are being built as a way of preventing service delivery protests.Committee chairperson Nomhle Dabuza said the human settlements department had also failed to monitor what happens to new housing projects.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Men's Health - Hennie BOTES moladi
MAY THE BEST MAN WIN
Leading the Pack
Best Man was first established by Men’s Health in 2003 with the objective of recognising South African men who are making a difference in society today. These men are leaders in their fields; they inspire us in our daily lives and create unique opportunities for all South Africans to reach their goals and develop themselves. It is once again that time of the year where we acknowledge these men - the leaders in sport, business, science and technology, arts and culture, media and public service. This year’s gala event will take place in Johannesburg on 11 June 2009. Last year’s event also saw the “Editor’s Choice” award, bestowed upon Shaun Pollock in recognition of his calm leadership of the national cricket team in a time when they were publicly and emotionally ravaged.
Leading the Pack
Best Man was first established by Men’s Health in 2003 with the objective of recognising South African men who are making a difference in society today. These men are leaders in their fields; they inspire us in our daily lives and create unique opportunities for all South Africans to reach their goals and develop themselves. It is once again that time of the year where we acknowledge these men - the leaders in sport, business, science and technology, arts and culture, media and public service. This year’s gala event will take place in Johannesburg on 11 June 2009. Last year’s event also saw the “Editor’s Choice” award, bestowed upon Shaun Pollock in recognition of his calm leadership of the national cricket team in a time when they were publicly and emotionally ravaged.
A true leader and innovator in the field of science and technology, this is a man who is forging a new path, finding new answers and breaking ground.
Founder of Moladi and the inventor of patented box moulds that allow the rapid erection of low-cost, less labour-intensive quality houses - a finalist
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Asia-Pacific Housing Forum - moladi
Asia-Pacific Housing Forum - Homepage
> OVERVIEW
Building on each other’s strengths More than one billion people around the world live in urban slums and this figure is rising as towns and cities continue to expand. The 2nd
Asia-Pacific Housing Forum will examine and propose concrete solutions for housing the urban poor and for dealing with existing slums. The forum will look at alternative approaches and scalable models involving national and local government authorities, businesses and social organizations working together and building on each other’s strengths to provide housing solutions. Slums are particularly vulnerable to fire, floods and other disasters. The forum will provide a venue where major players and stakeholders in relief and development can explore strategies to bridge the gaps between emergency relief and sustainable redevelopment.
> WHO SHOULD ATTEND The Forum is of interest to all who are concerned and engaged in providing urban poverty housing solutions like architects, academics, developers, urban planners, policymakers, NGOs, donor agencies, researchers, private and public sector actors. We invite you to join us at the September 2009 2nd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum in Manila, Philippines to: present a research paper or case study; participate in a dialogue or panel discussion; showcase your initiative or project; join a training event; engage in a “Leaders of Today & Tomorrow” session; be a participant.
moladi is proud and honoured to present our construction technology “The Moladi Approach to Affordable Housing Delivery”
> OVERVIEW
Building on each other’s strengths More than one billion people around the world live in urban slums and this figure is rising as towns and cities continue to expand. The 2nd
Asia-Pacific Housing Forum will examine and propose concrete solutions for housing the urban poor and for dealing with existing slums. The forum will look at alternative approaches and scalable models involving national and local government authorities, businesses and social organizations working together and building on each other’s strengths to provide housing solutions. Slums are particularly vulnerable to fire, floods and other disasters. The forum will provide a venue where major players and stakeholders in relief and development can explore strategies to bridge the gaps between emergency relief and sustainable redevelopment.> WHO SHOULD ATTEND The Forum is of interest to all who are concerned and engaged in providing urban poverty housing solutions like architects, academics, developers, urban planners, policymakers, NGOs, donor agencies, researchers, private and public sector actors. We invite you to join us at the September 2009 2nd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum in Manila, Philippines to: present a research paper or case study; participate in a dialogue or panel discussion; showcase your initiative or project; join a training event; engage in a “Leaders of Today & Tomorrow” session; be a participant.
moladi is proud and honoured to present our construction technology “The Moladi Approach to Affordable Housing Delivery”
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sexwale to head human settlements ministry
BuaNews Online homepage
Pretoria - Tokyo Sexwale has been announced as the Minister of Human Settlements.
Announcing his new Cabinet on Sunday, President Jacob Zuma said the Department of Housing will be called the Department of Human Settlements to take on a more holistic focus.
Going through the list of those who will take up seats in his Cabinet, Mr Zuma said: "Minister of Human Settlements - Tokyo Sexwale."
A highly respected businessman, Mr Sexwale has held many senior positions in the African National Congress. He was imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela on Robben Island were he was expected to serve a life sentence.
As President of South Africa in 1994, Mr Mandela appointed Mr Sexwale as Premier of Gauteng.
In 1998 he left public office and entered the world of business. He formed Mvelapanda Group, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed BEE consortium.
He also serves on the board of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee.
Mr Sexwale was named Tokyo because he enjoyed karate as a youngster. - BuaNews
Minister Sexwale, we at moladi congratulate you on your appointment to head the Human Settlements Ministry. We assure you of our support in your task to address the backlog and quality issues that you face - Congratulations!
Monday, May 04, 2009
News - South Africa: Report slams running of N2 Gateway project
News - South Africa: Report slams running of N2 Gateway project
The N2 Gateway project was launched in the Western Cape in March 2005 as a pilot to test the government's new low-cost housing policy called Breaking New Ground.
By Ella Smook
A damning audit report of the N2 Gateway housing project reveals costly and widespread deficiencies in the planning, accounting, design and execution of the government's flagship low-cost housing development.
The report, completed in June 2008 but tabled in parliament only last week, backs up complaints that have surrounded the project since its inception.
The national Department of Housing, which has responsibility for the project, commissioned the Auditor General's report, which confirmed the N2 Gateway Project had not been managed "economically, efficiently and effectively".
The Auditor General ordered corrective action, which will include training, as well as the recovery of possible fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and possible disciplinary action.
The policy sought to roll out integrated human settlements, rather than build row upon row of RDP houses in new communities that had no infrastructure or recreational facilities.
N2 Gateway houses would be bigger than RDP houses, and would be available as fully subsidised free homes, affordably bonded units and rental houses.
But in the past years positive reports of home handovers have been overshadowed by the negative press the development has attracted.
The problems have included housing lists, land invasions, politicking, illegal occupations, evictions, skills shortages and allegations of tender irregularities and shoddy workmanship on half-completed homes.
In June 2006, the Cape Argus reported on the "costly bungling" revealed at a mayco meeting.
Although the scope of the Auditor General's report did not extend to all the issues highlighted, it identified 10 areas of concern.
These included the fact that the necessary legislation and policies were not in place when construction started, and the roles and functions allocated to the different spheres of government had not been adhered to. This had resulted in uncertainties over who should take responsibility for specific functions.
In addition, the Auditor General found that construction started before funding had been secured or the business plan finalised
Sufficient land had also not yet been identified and secured, geotechnical surveys which would have revealed the seriousness of the soil problems had not been done, and the selection of beneficiaries had not been finalised.
Qualifying criteria in respect of monthly household income had also not been consistent with policy, and had been inconsistently communicated to different communities.
Because of the consequences of time-frame and affordability miscalculations, legal claims for abortive work and standing time, totalling R43 million, were lodged against the City of Cape Town.
Further fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R20m was incurred due to design changes which resulted from the failure to exercise "reasonable care" during the planning phase.
And because of irregularities in the appointment of initial project manager Cyberia, which "lacked (the) sufficient in-house and specialist expertise" to perform the job it had tendered for, payments of R12m made to Cyberia were found to have been irregular.
Some R72m in irregular expenditure was also incurred as a result of tender processes not being followed in the appointment of implementing consortia.
The appointment of Thubelisha Homes as project manager in 2006, after the new multi-party coalition-led City of Cape Town administration was removed from the project, was also done without proper procurement processes being followed.
Since the completion of the Auditor General's report, the government's Housing Development Agency has taken over from Thubelisha, which has since reportedly become insolvent.
All Thubelisha employees have transferred to the new government agency.
In response to the report, the Department of Housing said it would ensure "all corrective and necessary control measures are put in place as a matter of urgency".
It added that the "lessons learnt from the successful implementation of the (project) would be shared with other state-funded projects nationally".
How is it that an NGO sponsered by Government to the tune off R760, 000, 000 (that is R760 million) per annum to perform the duty of implementor/Project Manager is closed because of NON DELIVERY, be re-employed in the Housing Development Agency (HDA) when they did not fulfill their mandate????
How can they make a difference under a new entity???? Should this not be lesson 1?
Ask them (Thubelisha Homes) what they delivered over the past 5 years??? Or even better - since inception?????
The special advisor to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Mr Sath Moodley headed this project. He was ousted from the Mpumalanga Housing Department because of allegations...and reemployed as advisor?
I pray that more of this is exposed and the culprits charged and exposed.
Mr. Moodley, why have you not implemented moladi as you promised when we met you in Parliament AND after winning the ABSA NHBRC Award in 2006???
moladi
The N2 Gateway project was launched in the Western Cape in March 2005 as a pilot to test the government's new low-cost housing policy called Breaking New Ground.
By Ella Smook
A damning audit report of the N2 Gateway housing project reveals costly and widespread deficiencies in the planning, accounting, design and execution of the government's flagship low-cost housing development.
The report, completed in June 2008 but tabled in parliament only last week, backs up complaints that have surrounded the project since its inception.
The national Department of Housing, which has responsibility for the project, commissioned the Auditor General's report, which confirmed the N2 Gateway Project had not been managed "economically, efficiently and effectively".
The Auditor General ordered corrective action, which will include training, as well as the recovery of possible fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and possible disciplinary action.
The policy sought to roll out integrated human settlements, rather than build row upon row of RDP houses in new communities that had no infrastructure or recreational facilities.
N2 Gateway houses would be bigger than RDP houses, and would be available as fully subsidised free homes, affordably bonded units and rental houses.
But in the past years positive reports of home handovers have been overshadowed by the negative press the development has attracted.
The problems have included housing lists, land invasions, politicking, illegal occupations, evictions, skills shortages and allegations of tender irregularities and shoddy workmanship on half-completed homes.
In June 2006, the Cape Argus reported on the "costly bungling" revealed at a mayco meeting.
Although the scope of the Auditor General's report did not extend to all the issues highlighted, it identified 10 areas of concern.
These included the fact that the necessary legislation and policies were not in place when construction started, and the roles and functions allocated to the different spheres of government had not been adhered to. This had resulted in uncertainties over who should take responsibility for specific functions.
In addition, the Auditor General found that construction started before funding had been secured or the business plan finalised
Sufficient land had also not yet been identified and secured, geotechnical surveys which would have revealed the seriousness of the soil problems had not been done, and the selection of beneficiaries had not been finalised.
Qualifying criteria in respect of monthly household income had also not been consistent with policy, and had been inconsistently communicated to different communities.
Because of the consequences of time-frame and affordability miscalculations, legal claims for abortive work and standing time, totalling R43 million, were lodged against the City of Cape Town.
Further fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R20m was incurred due to design changes which resulted from the failure to exercise "reasonable care" during the planning phase.
And because of irregularities in the appointment of initial project manager Cyberia, which "lacked (the) sufficient in-house and specialist expertise" to perform the job it had tendered for, payments of R12m made to Cyberia were found to have been irregular.
Some R72m in irregular expenditure was also incurred as a result of tender processes not being followed in the appointment of implementing consortia.
The appointment of Thubelisha Homes as project manager in 2006, after the new multi-party coalition-led City of Cape Town administration was removed from the project, was also done without proper procurement processes being followed.
Since the completion of the Auditor General's report, the government's Housing Development Agency has taken over from Thubelisha, which has since reportedly become insolvent.
All Thubelisha employees have transferred to the new government agency.
In response to the report, the Department of Housing said it would ensure "all corrective and necessary control measures are put in place as a matter of urgency".
It added that the "lessons learnt from the successful implementation of the (project) would be shared with other state-funded projects nationally".
How is it that an NGO sponsered by Government to the tune off R760, 000, 000 (that is R760 million) per annum to perform the duty of implementor/Project Manager is closed because of NON DELIVERY, be re-employed in the Housing Development Agency (HDA) when they did not fulfill their mandate????
How can they make a difference under a new entity???? Should this not be lesson 1?
Ask them (Thubelisha Homes) what they delivered over the past 5 years??? Or even better - since inception?????
The special advisor to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Mr Sath Moodley headed this project. He was ousted from the Mpumalanga Housing Department because of allegations...and reemployed as advisor?
I pray that more of this is exposed and the culprits charged and exposed.
Mr. Moodley, why have you not implemented moladi as you promised when we met you in Parliament AND after winning the ABSA NHBRC Award in 2006???
moladi
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Housing Microfinance 'To Take Off in Africa' | Newsroom | NextBillion.net | Development through Enterprise
Housing Microfinance 'To Take Off in Africa' | Newsroom | NextBillion.net | Development through Enterprise
The trend of providing microloans to poor people to buy houses is likely to rocket in the next few years as an alternative to conventional bank mortgages, says low-income finance expert David Porteous.
While delegates to the African Microfinance Conference in Cape Town agreed that "housing microfinance" was gaining ground across Africa, commitments by the large South African banks could provide a fresh twist to this tale.
Under the Financial Sector Charter, SA's big-four commercial banks had agreed to divert a far greater amount of funds into low-income housing and were on the verge of nailing down a deal with government to manage the risk.
But with banks set to extend mortgage lending downwards to low-income earners, and microfinanciers extending upwards through "housing finance", the two groups could yet clash in the middle of the previously underserviced market.
Porteous said the burgeoning trend of microfinanciers providing housing finance was being driven by a greater number of people moving to the cities.
He said in SA 58% of people live in cities, a growing group that requires finance to build, buy and improve houses.
Porteous said that while there was a need for more "housing microfinance" in SA, "there is an even greater need in the rest of Africa", where conventional mortgages are few and far between.
The Millennium Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions of 100-million slum-dwellers by the year 2020, were another factor driving the boom in housing microfinance.
Porteous said housing microfinance differed from conventional microfinance, where institutions give unsecured loans to low-income groups. "Housing loans are larger, and (are repayable) over a longer term, so it puts pressure on lenders' balance sheets."
There are a number of microfinance institutions providing money for housing across the world, including Sewa in India and Grameen in Bangladesh.
Because people with access to microloans would not qualify for normal bank debt, the interest rates were usually a lot higher on microloans.
But as finance would be provided over a longer period and the repayment record on home loans was good, interest rates would be less than for an average microloan.
moladi response
Horse before the cart?
It is wonderful that there is momentum in providing microloans to people to buy houses is gaining ground in Africa.
The only issue is that there is "no product". Most of the houses for sale are above the majority of buyer’s ability to qualify for the loan.
Therefore product has to be provided for the BoP market - this is where moladi plays its roll. We build more QUALITY homes FASTER BETTER for LESS by applying a technology driven housing delivery system employing local labour.
Lack of resources, insufficient funds, skills shortage, time constraints, work flow control and waste are key challenges embodied in affordable housing shortages.
What a challenge and opportunity to create jobs? Allowing the BoP to move up and make use of Housing Microfinance in the future. In order to capture this market more effectivly a "Push Pull" long term marketing strategy should be seen as the "Way forward".
Visit www.moladi.net for more information
The trend of providing microloans to poor people to buy houses is likely to rocket in the next few years as an alternative to conventional bank mortgages, says low-income finance expert David Porteous.
While delegates to the African Microfinance Conference in Cape Town agreed that "housing microfinance" was gaining ground across Africa, commitments by the large South African banks could provide a fresh twist to this tale.
Under the Financial Sector Charter, SA's big-four commercial banks had agreed to divert a far greater amount of funds into low-income housing and were on the verge of nailing down a deal with government to manage the risk.
But with banks set to extend mortgage lending downwards to low-income earners, and microfinanciers extending upwards through "housing finance", the two groups could yet clash in the middle of the previously underserviced market.
Porteous said the burgeoning trend of microfinanciers providing housing finance was being driven by a greater number of people moving to the cities.
He said in SA 58% of people live in cities, a growing group that requires finance to build, buy and improve houses.
Porteous said that while there was a need for more "housing microfinance" in SA, "there is an even greater need in the rest of Africa", where conventional mortgages are few and far between.
The Millennium Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions of 100-million slum-dwellers by the year 2020, were another factor driving the boom in housing microfinance.
Porteous said housing microfinance differed from conventional microfinance, where institutions give unsecured loans to low-income groups. "Housing loans are larger, and (are repayable) over a longer term, so it puts pressure on lenders' balance sheets."
There are a number of microfinance institutions providing money for housing across the world, including Sewa in India and Grameen in Bangladesh.
Because people with access to microloans would not qualify for normal bank debt, the interest rates were usually a lot higher on microloans.
But as finance would be provided over a longer period and the repayment record on home loans was good, interest rates would be less than for an average microloan.
moladi response
Horse before the cart?
It is wonderful that there is momentum in providing microloans to people to buy houses is gaining ground in Africa.
The only issue is that there is "no product". Most of the houses for sale are above the majority of buyer’s ability to qualify for the loan.
Therefore product has to be provided for the BoP market - this is where moladi plays its roll. We build more QUALITY homes FASTER BETTER for LESS by applying a technology driven housing delivery system employing local labour.
Lack of resources, insufficient funds, skills shortage, time constraints, work flow control and waste are key challenges embodied in affordable housing shortages.
What a challenge and opportunity to create jobs? Allowing the BoP to move up and make use of Housing Microfinance in the future. In order to capture this market more effectivly a "Push Pull" long term marketing strategy should be seen as the "Way forward".
Visit www.moladi.net for more information
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Habitat for Humanity International invitation - “The Moladi Approach to Affordable Housing Delivery”
We are very proud and honoured to accept the following invitation received from Habitat for Humanity International to speak about the moladi approach to affordable housing delivery.
“Habitat for Humanity International is organizing the 2nd Asia Pacific Housing Forum to be held at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Centre, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines on September 7-9, 2009. The first APHF was held in Singapore in 2007 and was attended by 230 participants representing 28 countries.
The 2nd Asia Pacific Housing Forum promises to be a bigger event. It will look at both alternative approaches and scalable models where government, business and social organizations can work together and build on each other’s strengths to provide urban housing solutions particularly the elimination of slums.
We are fully aware of your expertise and dedication to the cause of the needy particularly the homeless poor. It is therefore our honor to cordially invite you to speak at the 2nd Asia Pacific Housing Forum on the topic “The Moladi Approach to Affordable Housing Delivery”.”
See you there…
www.moladi.net
Be PROACTIVE – YOU can make the difference
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