Gauteng government has ambitious plans to build three new cities.

Building a R1.4bn precinct in Freedom Park, Pretoria, will save the state more than R85m a year in rent once government departments move into their new accommodation in June 2016.

Standard Bank, Africa's biggest lender by assets and earnings, remains committed to funding affordable housing developments and continues to see healthy demand for homes in this segment.

Hawks are investigating Eastern Cape Human Settlements officials and two contractors for allegedly defrauding the department of millions of rands.

The expected handover of more than a million title deeds to owners of subsidised houses during the next five years could speed up the opening of the formal property market in areas like Soweto.

Cosatu demands that the City of Cape Town release the findings of an audit of the land it owns and wants it used for low-cost housing instead of being sold to property developers.

The Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Jacob Mamabolo, has brokered an agreement between the (GWCRA) and the Westonaria District Municipality over the allocation of 1000 houses in Botlhabela Borwa.

The state will build 216 000 houses and connect 905 000 households to electricity over the next two years, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Mpumalanga government is on a drive to link the capital city to the nearby town of White River.