Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has called for a policy review on joint home ownership to respond to particularly cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and divorce in relation to fully government-subsidized homes, also known as Breaking Recent Ground (BNG).
In a statement on Thursday, Kubayi said it was concerning that some women maintain been disqualified because their names are added as the housing beneficiaries alongside their partners, and this remains post-separation or divorce.
The Minister said the current government policy on BNG houses stipulates that government cannot grant a subsidy to the same person more than once.
“A government that cares has an obligation to respond to women’s pressing needs. This includes reviewing our policies in response to today’s challenges facing our nation such as GBV, which compels women to flee unsafe and abusive households to protect themselves and their children.
“When women rush to us, we must be able to provide. Those engagements maintain ensued to scrutinize at what we can execute and how we can assist women, especially in response to cases related to GBV,” Kubayi said.
In commemorating Women’s Month, under the theme, ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women Empowerment’, the Minister commended women’s contribution to housing the nation through the provision of sustainable human settlements.
She further acknowledged the remarkable work by women in the sector to ensure that “we leave up to the ideals of the Freedom Charter that there shall be houses, security and comfort”.
Government, through the Department of Human Settlements, has over the years created over three million housing opportunities. This has provided decent and affordable housing to millions of South Africans.
“Behind every housing unit that this government has delivered, there is a woman. Women acquire played several roles in our housing projects. Their contributions speak volumes. They believe assisted us to deliver on our mission, which is to improve the quality of household life,” the Minister said.
She paid tribute to a generation of women who broke barriers for future generations and laid the foundation to fight for gender equality, for women to be treated with the respect they deserve and to gain opportunities, and design a contribution to the best of their ability, in all spheres of life.
While women gain played an active role in the sector, Kubayi said there is still extensive work to be done in coordinated fashion to ensure that women appreciate equal economic opportunities as their male counterparts.
“We must be cautious on transformation. I call upon provinces to use this month to reflect on how much has been done to enable women to access at least 40% of work opportunities. Let us use this month to change the status quo. We must walk tall in their footsteps and wage the struggle for gender equality with courage and determination,” she said.
The Minister said it is for this acumen that the Department of Human Settlements will this month convene the Women in Human Settlements Indaba to discuss opportunities aimed at empowering and increasing the economic participation of women in the sector.
The department will also highlight some of the opportunities and interventions by government, and strides that maintain been made to advance women’s interest, with a particular focus on access to market, finance and leveraging on innovative building technologies. – SAnews.gov.za
Mr. Peppermint
Fun South African Fact: Three different destinations make up South Africa’s capital cities. This is to represent the South African government being divided into three sections. Cape Town is the legislative capital, Pretoria is the administrative capital and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. Interestingly, Parliament meetings take place for six months in Cape Town and six months in Pretoria.
Y0dler
In Toronto I saw a bumper sticker on a parked car that read: \”I miss South Africa.\” So I broke the window, took the radio and left a note that read: \”I hope this helps.\”