Access to affordable housing remains a problem: Kubayi
Human Settlements Minister Mamoloko Kubayi said South Africa’s middle and lower working class are struggling to find suitable and affordable housing options.
The minister admitted this was largely due to the high cost of living and limited access to financing amongst others.
She briefed the media on government plans to address the housing crisis, which includes improving access to affordable housing.
"The factors that drive affordability of housing include high interest rates resulting in high cost of living, high level of indebtedness, limited access to financing, higher property prices and limit supply of affordable houses".
She added access to mortgage financing has also become increasingly difficult - citing that housing finance approvals for the gap market (middle class) have dropped, further limiting access to affordable housing for those who need it.
"The office of disclosure analysis for the past five years shows a concerning trend of affordability of housing for the gap. The decline in approvals in the gap market is quite significant - this indicates that the access to mortgage financing for the gap market is becoming increasingly difficult in the country".
-Sale of RDPs-
Kubayi said her department is also going to work with law enforcement agencies to evict and arrest South Africans who have been selling the government's RDP houses.
There has been an increase in RDP housing scams in the country, particularly in Gauteng where RDP beneficiaries reportedly sell their RDP houses to the poor and in some instances to undocumented foreign nationals.
"I have said to South Africans, those who have sold and bought our houses must return our houses before we arrive. I have given them enough time since 2021 so I hope South Africans will not call us heartless or ruthless when people are arrested because we have to account for state funds".
ALSO READ:
