Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has approved adjustments made to the social housing programme.
This comes after the launch of the Westgate social housing project in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday, which was officiated by President Jacob Zuma.
“These adjustments ensure that the social housing programme continues its focus on the primary target market in well-located projects, so that the poor are integrated into cities,” she said in a statement.
Further, they ensure that more young professionals will benefit from government rental subsidised housing.
The approved adjustments include a catering to a shift in income bands, raising the lower qualifying household income limit for the primary market from R3 500 to R5 500 a month, and the upper qualifying household income limit from R7 500 to R15 000 a month.
Sisulu has also approved an increase in the restructuring capital grant from R125 615 a unit to R155 000 a unit, as well as the consolidation of the community residential unit with social housing.
“We will continue to work hard in ensuring that we reach out to all our housing beneficiaries, particularly the low-income earners and the gap market, by providing housing opportunities close to transport, places of work and economic activities,” she said.