Our development plans also focus on overcoming the spatial fragmentation of South Africa’s built environment, improved public transport and accelerated investment in human settlements.

An integrated city development grant has been introduced to strengthen long-term city planning and encourage private investment in urban development. It will amount to R814 million over the medium term.

The assignment this year of the human settlements function to metropolitan municipalities is a vital intervention in accelerating housing investment and integrated urban development.

Over the next three years, national government will allocate R105 billion to municipalities for free basic water, sanitation, electricity and refuse removal services.

In rural districts, Minister Nkwinti’s development initiatives are gaining momentum and water supply and sanitation programmes are in progress.

R3.9 billion has been allocated to capacity building programmes over the MTEF, targeted at small towns and rural municipalities. Billions of rands are allocated for Special initiatives include: