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Message: [QUOTE="Queen, post: 87285, member: 27"] A last-minute R60 million cash boost just cranked up Free State’s housing push, putting pressure on officials to finally move families out of risky shacks and into proper homes. R60 million rerouted to Free State housing [LIST] [*]Ketso Makume confirmed R60 million for Free State Human Settlements. [*]National Treasury redirected R150 million after Gauteng underspent its allocation. [*]Eastern Cape matched Free State with R60 million, while Limpopo received R30 million. [*]Funds must be spent this financial year under the Human Settlements Development Grant. [/LIST] Focus on informal settlements and delivery [LIST] [*]Makume said housing restores dignity and stabilizes struggling families. [*]Upgrades target flood-prone and fire-prone informal areas lacking basic services. [*]Department reports weekly handovers of completed houses to qualifying residents. [*]Acceleration plans aim to cut long waiting periods for beneficiaries. [/LIST] Education and broader budget shifts [LIST] [*]Additional R3.498 million went to the Free State Department of Education. [*]Teacher upskilling programs are funded through a training authority transfer. [*]The adjustment speech also backed small businesses and tourism growth. [*]Makume framed reallocations as legally compliant and tightly managed. [/LIST] Past underspending and course correction [LIST] [*]Free State returned R600 million to the National Treasury in 2023. [*]Makume pledged no future surrender of housing funds after backlash. [*]The 2024 to 2025 budget reserved R991.7 million for settlements and upgrades. [*]Latest allocation signals tighter planning and faster project rollout. [/LIST] Community impact and national backing [LIST] [*]Botshabelo stands among areas expecting quicker informal settlement upgrades. [*]President Cyril Ramaphosa previously raised alarms about housing pressures there. [*]The Human Settlements Minister earlier pledged over R50 million during visits. [*]The broader provincial plan also sets aside R239 million for sports and culture. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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