Jaap de Visser unpacks new planning law at Housing Roundtable
The national Department of Human Settlements is preparing a new White Paper on Human Settlements. The new White Paper will lead to new legislation and the repeal of the Housing Act of 1997. Together with the South African Local Government Association, the Department is hosting a series of roundtables to debate the new policy. On 31 May, Jaap de Visser delivered a presentation to the Roundtable on Planning, Design and Development of Integrated Human Settlements.
He discussed the content and impact of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act
of 2013. This Act follows the Constitution in devolving planning responsibilities to municipalities. With land use planning and management being crucial to the development of human settlements, SPLUMA and particularly its emphasis on "municipal planning" will impact the upcoming Human Settlements White Paper.