Department of Human Settlements contradicts Minister’s plan to capture gated communities

30 August 2023

The Department of Human Settlements have contradicted the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, by revealing that it has no record of decision for her plan to capture gate communities by enforcing broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) on services procured by community housing schemes.

This was revealed in answer to a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application from the DA.

The Minister first revealed her plan on 8 August 2023 at the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) Inaugural Indaba.

The DA requested the following information from the Department of Human Settlements:

The record of decision to implement BBBEE to services procured by community housing schemes;

A record of deliberations by the Minister and/or Director-Generals to implement BBBEE to services procured by community housing schemes; and

A record of any and all legal opinions, internal opinions or advice sought by the Minister and/or Director-Generals on implementing BBBEE to services procured by community housing schemes.

The reply stated that they are “unable to provide you with access to requested record/information as the record does not exist in the Department” as stated in Annexure A. The department further stated that the Minister was merely stating her opinion which was not in line with the department.

The DA will further probe the matter at the oral questions session scheduled in Parliament next week.

Issued by Luyolo Mphithi, DA Shadow Minister of Human Settlements, 30 August 2023