Most of the Eastern Cape's housing funds will go to the rural district municipalities of Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo; those in informal settlements affected by flood disasters in Buffalo City and the Nelson Mandela Metro are also in line for more funds says Housing and Local Government MEC Gugile Nkwinti.

This moves comes in the light of the department’s focus to systemically eliminate the housing backlog, monitor and evaluate of the delivery of quality housing, manage and improve the capacity of municipalities in the area of housing development, co-ordinate housing asset management, create jobs, develop skills and strengthen the economy.

An amount of R598,9 million has been allocated to the housing programme which would be used to build 23 149 homes.

Nkwinti stressed that the new policy had moved from quantity to quality housing, for which external expertise had been engaged.

The department would not only empower municipalities to manage and implement housing development projects, but also embark on housing consumer/ beneficiary education to ensure that communities were provided with information on housing.

The use of labour-intensive methods during the implementation of the projects would yield 225 000 jobs.

The department is also to link the development of Duncan Village to the Mdantsane urban renewal drive. It has allocated R120 million over the next five years for the Duncan Village redevelopment.

An amount of R6,6 million has been set aside to for the Mdantsane urban renewal programme with similar amounts going to Motherwell and Ngangelizwe.

In addition to the establishment of a properly functioning provincial Disaster Management Centre, the department has allocated R19,9 million to promote effective disaster management programmes in municipalities.

The traditional leaders' programme will receive a total budget of R68,9 million which would be supported by the promulgation of new legislation and the construction of the provincial traditional leaders' House and traditional council offices.