housing database well received
11 March 2008

The Gauteng Department of Housing's new housing demand database has been received with overwhelming support, it says.

Launched last month, in Sebokeng, Vaal Rand, it has attracted 20 000 people wanting to update their details.  The aim of the database is to allow the provincial department to consolidate the need for housing against historical waiting lists and eliminate superfluous applications.

Called Ziveze, the project was necessitated by the fact that an audit of the old waiting lists indicated 50% of potential housing beneficiaries' ID numbers were invalid, while 65% did not match the applicants' records. It was further found that some residential addresses were blank and deceased applicants still appeared on the list.

Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane says: "It is overwhelming to see that most of the targeted beneficiaries are participating in this project.

"Among other things, the implementation of this project will not only allow the department to plan according to beneficiaries' needs, choices and affordability, but will also ensure efficient and effective service delivery."

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