The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Stellenbosch welcomes the launch of the new housing app by the DA-led Stellenbosch municipality. This innovative way to tackle fair access to housing opportunities while providing transparent accessibility to the housing database, is a ground-breaking affirmation of the DA’s commitment to providing people with the dignity of property ownership.
Mayor Gesie van Deventer explained that the app will be a platform that allows the municipality to accurately update the housing database while providing crucial information relating to resident’s housing needs.
The app, VOIS Housing, is available for download on the Stellenbosch Municipality’s website and in the Play Store and will allow residents to update their information, submit housing applications and select what type of housing assistance they require.
With the development of the app, it was important to take into consideration the high cost of data, so the app has been designed to allow the user to complete all of the required steps offline and only upon submission use data. The municipality went on to say that they are looking into expanding the app into Afrikaans and isiXhosa and hope to further develop a two-way communication channel between residents and the municipality.
As with many other municipalities in the Western Cape, housing is an important and emotive issue in Stellenbosch. Our local governments in collaboration with the provincial government, work hard to ensure that those who qualify for housing assistance, are able to own a home. At the same time, we work hard to create a growing economy where people are free and able to build their own prosperity.
This application, which is the first of its kind, is further testament that where the DA governs, we find modern and innovative ways to improve service delivery and enhance the life-chances of citizens.
The DA is the only party committed to building a prosperous South Africa where all citizens can have access to the safety and dignity of owning a home.