Parliament, Wednesday, 26 August 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has called on the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) and provinces to move with urgency to establish clear policy, regulatory and funding frameworks to accelerate the implementation of innovative building technologies (IBTs) as part of efforts to address South Africa’s housing backlog.
The committee made the call during its engagement with the DHS and the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements, where it expressed concern about the slow uptake of IBTs despite their potential to reduce construction costs and significantly improve the turnaround times for delivering housing.
Committee Chairperson Mr Nocks Seabi said the department’s long-standing challenges of growing housing demand and limited resources required innovative approaches to housing delivery.
“The DHS has always complained about the moving target of housing demand and the lack of resources to meet the demand. It is in this context that the committee is of the view that IBTs can alleviate both the cost associated with brick-and-mortar units and the time constraints to build those units,” Mr Seabi said.
The committee acknowledged that the absence of a comprehensive regulatory and costing framework, as well as uncertainty about which technologies are most suitable, has contributed to a cautious approach to the adoption of IBTs. However, it raised concern about the limited appetite among provinces to allocate resources towards these technologies.
The committee was informed that, against the 2% minimum allocation of the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) for IBTs, only the Eastern Cape has allocated resources above this threshold, with approximately 5% of its HSDG allocation used for IBT programmes and projects.
In contrast, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape have not allocated resources for the procurement of IBTs for the 2026/27 financial year.
“This trend must be urgently reversed to ensure that the department can move with speed to implement IBT projects. Despite this, we acknowledge the cautious approach the department is taking to ensure that decisions on the materials to be used receive due consideration, particularly in relation to durability, cost and speed of construction,” said Mr Seabi.
The committee further emphasised that the benefits of IBTs extend beyond housing delivery. Increased adoption has the potential to strengthen South Africa’s manufacturing base, stimulate domestic production, develop skills and contribute to job creation and labour absorption.
The committee welcomed the DHS’s assurance that the necessary framework is under consideration and expressed hope that it will be finalised and approved within an appropriate timeframe. It stressed that the framework should provide clear guidance to provinces and facilitate greater certainty in the selection, costing and implementation of IBT solutions.
The committee also welcomed the progress reported by the Eastern Cape, particularly its use of IBTs in responding to communities affected by disasters. The province’s experience demonstrated the potential of IBTs to reduce the loss of property and improve the speed of housing responses following disasters.
The committee noted that faster deployment of appropriate IBTs can help ensure that affected communities receive quality, durable and cost-effective housing while significantly improving response times.
The committee reaffirmed its support for the DHS in developing and implementing a clear framework for IBTs and stressed that provinces must be held accountable for progress in adopting suitable technologies.
The committee will continue to monitor developments and will require periodic updates on the adoption and implementation of IBTs by provinces, particularly in relation to funding allocations, projects undertaken, construction timelines, costs, durability and the impact on communities.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, MR NOCKS SEABI.
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