By Thapelo Molefe
Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has acknowledged that the department’s previous focus on urban areas has left rural areas with numerous challenges.
Kubayi was speaking at the launch of the Human Settlements Research Strategy on Monday, which coincided with World Habitat Day.
“In the world that is undergoing rapid urbanisation, many villages are facing a series of problems such as depopulation, population ageing, insufficient infrastructure and public service facilities,” she said in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
“While most of our work has been focused on responding to the challenges of accessing urban land for human settlement, the sprouting of informal settlements and the rise of inner-city slums, the challenges of unsustainable human settlements in rural areas have received little or no attention.”
To address these issues, she said the department would prioritise applied research, focusing on tangible outcomes that positively impacted human settlement developments.
She emphasised the need for research-driven solutions to address the complex challenges facing the sector.
“Improving the rural human settlements both in terms of rural ecological environment and the creation of a healthy rural human settlement environment are areas that require intensive research. Not only will this help us to reinvigorate rural development, but it will also assist us with mitigating against climate change and its effects,” the minister said.
Kubayi also said that the research strategy marked a significant shift towards evidence-based policy making and implementation.
The department is currently finalising its Human Settlements White Paper.
“The new White Paper will provide an enabling overarching policy framework for the delivery of sustainable human settlements that are spatially integrated, inclusive and equitable through a holistic approach involving robust stakeholder engagement,” Kubayi said.
“Flowing from the policy proposals in the White Paper, the Housing Code will be reviewed and rewritten to encompass new approaches to give effect to the delivery of integrated and sustainable human settlements.”
There would be continuous consultation with all implementation partners across government, business, academia and civil society so that there was policy coherence and certainty.
Kubayi added that the research agenda aimed to inform policy development, identify problematic areas, guide resource allocation, encourage research collaboration and drive capacity building.
“There is extensive research in human settlements that has already been conducted across many institutions. We plan to leverage on this existing research and also invest in further research in the sector,” Kubayi said.
The theme for World Habitat Day this year is: “Engaging youth to create a better urban future.” It aims to address the challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanisation by focusing on the active involvement of young people in shaping sustainable cities and communities.
INSIDE POLITICS
