UN housing award for SA
8 October 2003
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on Monday bestowed one of its coveted awards on former housing minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele for improving the housing condition of six million South Africans during her term of office.
The awards ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday, and formed part of the annual Habitat Scroll of Honour Awards for the best performing individuals and institutions in the field of human habitation throughout the world.
The awards are presented during the World Habitat Day celebrations every year.
Mthembi-Mahanyele was honoured for delivering 1.45 million houses worth R20-billion in eight years, and providing housing for six million people during her term of office.
Mthembi-Mahanyele relinquished her post in February to become ANC deputy general-secretary. By the time she left office, she had steered the housing department in delivering close to 1.5 million houses to
about 7.3 million people.
However, the award recognises her achievements up to the end of last year (for 1.45 million houses to six million people).
Among her other achievements recognised by the UN is the transfer of ownership of 400 000 former municipal houses worth R32-billion to people who had been renting them.
The award also cited Mthembi-Mahanyele's role in initiating and implementing the Rental Housing and Urban Renewal programmes, as well as her role as the chairperson of the First World Urban Forum, a component of UN Habitat, during the past year.
Meanwhile, the UN has confirmed that South Africa's record of providing houses to the poor is unprecedented in the history of housing delivery throughout the world.
The UN said that South Africa's ability to deliver 1.5 million houses to 7.3 million people in nine years was a milestone, pointing out that countries such as Cuba had only managed to house 500 000 people in about 20
years.
Source: BuaNews
| 
