The majority of these beneficiaries were from the poorest parts of society, said Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale in Parliament on the 22 of May 2013.

“The main focus of our housing delivery remains the poorest of the poor, many of whom are in and around informal settlements. At this stage the following message must be clear: our government does not build slums, imikhukhu, amatyotyombe!” he said during his Budget Vote.

However, he warned that the policy of providing grants that enabled the poor to get free housing was unsustainable. “Strictly speaking, this is more of a welfare programme approach than a lasting housing policy as this programme is driven by the triple evils of unemployment, poverty and inequity. For as long as this is the case, so long shall this programme remain because we as the government are committed to the poor and shall not abandon them.”