The Limpopo Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) has a rich history of working towards a better life for all citizens of the province. From its foundational roots to its current mandate, the department continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of our communities.
With the dawn of democracy, the provincial government began its massive task of addressing the housing backlog. Since 1994, the department has successfully constructed and handed over over 320,000 houses, benefiting approximately 1.8 million people and providing them with a dignified roof over their heads.
To improve service delivery and transparency, the department launched the toll-free Housing Consumer Call Centre on 6 February 2007. This innovative initiative allowed citizens to resolve housing queries without incurring travel costs, and it later won national awards for innovation.
Following the 2009 national elections, the department underwent a significant name change. It transitioned from the Department of Local Government and Housing to the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA). This change accommodated the Traditional Affairs unit transferred from the Office of the Premier, uniting these critical portfolios under one roof.
The department launched the first Community Residential Units (CRU) project in the province at Seshego. This R40 million project transformed the old apartheid-era hostels into 189 modern residential units, providing affordable rental accommodation and creating local jobs.
The department oversaw a major reconfiguration of municipalities, reducing the number of local municipalities to improve efficiency. During this period, the department also continued its vital support for traditional leadership, allocating substantial budgets to support the Kingships and Queenship of Limpopo, including the restoration of the Modjadji Queenship.
Today, CoGHSTA is Vote 11 in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature. The department remains committed to its mission of promoting developmental local governance, supporting municipalities and traditional institutions, and delivering integrated and sustainable human settlements for the people of Limpopo.