South Africa News
Minister of Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi to speed up the provision of social houses
Twenty-one days after taking office, the new Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has promised to speed up the provision of social houses, saying it was unacceptable that there are people who have been waiting for houses since 1994.
Kubayi also said it was also unacceptable that while people on the ground need social housing from the state, her department and provincial departments were underspending on their budget and returning the money back to the national Treasury. She said there is a possibility that her department in October this year is going to return almost half a billion rands back to the Treasury because of underspending.
Kubayi is on a three-day ministerial visit to KwaZulu-Natal as part of her department’s “365 Days of Speed and Efficiency in the roll-out of human settlements” programme and she took time to exclusively meet with Independent Media.
“So, for an example, I am sitting with the possibility of losing about R400 million, now in the October medium-term budget because of underspending… over time you can see the trend of surrendering money to the Treasury… that what’s I have said to them team, let’s go put systems of spending in the provinces.
When we allocate money to the municipalities, the grants we are giving are not coming back because it is not justifiable, there is so much need of housing in this country, there is much need of infrastructure, there is so much we can do,” she said.
During her visit she was accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements, Jomo Sibiya, who said he was grateful that the national department was going to aid the province to recover from last month’s riots that came with looting and loss of life.
Sibiya said no matter what has happened or had angered people, the looting should have not happened as it has resulted in the shortage of building material when the province needs it the most.
He said even the available building material is very expensive, making it difficult to provide social housing needed across the province. Sibiya was asked about the many unfinished housing projects in rural towns like Melmoth.
He said when he took office, it became his priority to ensure that those projects are finished and handed over to the people as they paint a picture of a government without clear planning processes.
“In the province I agree, there is a project in Melmoth, just close to the road, it has been there for quite some time. Some of the houses have just been recently completed, some have been completed some time ago, some are yet to be completed but all of them do have roofs and everything.
“I have been to Melmoth because it’s one issue that I said it can’t continue… Unfinished housing projects are the ones on my radar that I have said we need to complete all the projects because it is painting this government in a wrong way (as if) we are unable to plan. We just do projects for the sake of doing them when we need to have those projects or houses occupied, then we are found wanting
Source: News365
In other news – Former Mzansi it-girl Nonhle Thema speaks after her dramatic downfall
Mzansi’s former it-girl Nonhle Thema has said that she is done dreaming about things she can do or do better because she has done it all.
Nonhle took to Instagram to express her emotions following her downfall. She said, “My focus when I was young was to be a TV star and I ended up being a global star. Learn more
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for transparency, accountability and the elimination of unnecessary expenditures to cut down on the cost of governance in the country. Akpabio made the call on Monday at a one-day dialogue on the cost of governance in Nigeria organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, in Abuja.
Akpabio, who was represented by Sen. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers) highlighted the possible factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country.He said the size of the country’s bureaucracy, the escalating public service wage bills, the overhead costs of appointed public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials are major factors.
According to him, the running of government institutions among other substantial components contributed to weighing down the economy and hindering development efforts. Let us hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility for the betterment of our nation. We have to ensure that our government operates efficiently and effectively, serving the needs of the people and fostering sustainable development,” he said.
The president of the senate emphasized the need to streamline bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensured transparency and accountability at all levels of governance. We must invest in our human capital, empowering our public officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive progress.
“And we must foster a culture of innovation and creativity, where new ideas can flourish and transform our nation,” he said.Akpabio urged all Nigerians to remain united, become agents of change and be committed to making sacrifices for the nation. He said that the 10th Assembly was ready to partner with all stakeholders to do everything within its constitutional powers to make Nigeria for all citizens.
Source: pmnewsnigeria
In other news – Bad leaders making the life of Nigerians miserable – Pastor Giwa
The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, on Sunday, lamented that the economic situation in Nigeria has gone from bad to worse under President Bola Tinubu.
The clergyman noted that bad leaders were intentionally making life miserable for Nigerians. Read more
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Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal. Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool the advantage in the Premier League title race as they played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool are now top of the table and two points clear of Arsenal after they came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield, their delight increased by their two closest rivals cancelling each other out.
This was a game that made a nonsense of its billing as a potential classic, as Arsenal’s containing tactics snuffed out City while the Gunners had only limited chances of their own in a desperately poor affair.
Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka’s cross inches from goal after the break.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiola with this outcome – but the real winners were Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side were under greater pressure to win this match but their usual fluent passing game was rarely in evidence, stifled by the visitors’ organisation and infuriated by referee Anthony Taylor’s reluctance to punish the Gunners for a succession of infringements.
It led to a scrappy, disjointed game in which City were never allowed to gather their usual momentum and rhythm, with even the best efforts of master creators Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva unable to carve out meaningful opportunities for Erling Haaland, who was kept on the margins throughout.
The hosts held sway in possession for most of the second half but it was illustrative of the game that Raya barely had an anxious moment, his counterpart Stefan Ortega also idle for long periods.
Indeed, it is the first time City have failed to score at home in the Premier League since October 2021, a run of 47 games.
The reigning champions, as usual, will remain confident of retaining their title but Guardiola will be bitterly disappointed at his side’s failure to trouble Arsenal, with substitute Jack Grealish on the end of some lengthy post-match advice from his manager.
City are back here at Etihad Stadium to face in-form Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups in this tight Premier League title pursuit.
Arsenal arrived at Manchester City with a point to make and a chance to show their improvement at a ground where they have had a miserable record in the past.
The Gunners last won here in January 2015, drawing one and losing eight of their subsequent nine visits before this game.
Here, Arteta set his side out to be fiercely drilled and well-organised to frustrate, a strategy seemingly designed to earn the point they secured rather than risk more for victory.
It was a conservative approach but what it did demonstrate was that Arsenal do have more resilience and character than on previous occasions, when they have sometimes capitulated under City’s attacking assault.
Arteta’s side were composed but also willing to throw bodies on the line when danger threatened, not that they were ever in serious peril of conceding – a tribute to their display in itself.
They have kept clean sheets in both games against Manchester City this season, making them only the fourth team to shut out a Guardiola side twice in the same season.
Whether this is one point gained or two lost remains to be seen, but Arteta seemed satisfied enough at the final whistle.
source – BBC