Mining housing of R2.1bn welcomed

Cape Town – The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources has welcomed the decision by government to ring-fence R2.1bn over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for housing implementation in distressed mining towns.

The committee reiterated on Friday that approval of R290m by government to upgrade informal settlements in these towns for the current financial year is a step in the right direction.

Committee chair Sahlulele Luzipo, said this gesture should open up dialogue and negotiations with social partners, including labour unions, as it is of paramount importance.

“The committee would like to commend the president for providing leadership in the Mining Sector National Consultative Forum, honouring his commitment made during the State of the Nation Address in June this year," said Luzipo in a statement issues on Friday.

"The government has done its part, but this does not take away the responsibility of mining companies to invest in upgrading the living conditions of their communities.”

The concern regarding lack of adequate housing in the mining towns featured prominently during the committee’s engagements with mining stakeholders in the build-up to its strategic planning session in September 2014.

- Fin24