Over the past few years, the Housing Development Agency (HDA) has undergone a remarkable transformation. One that has repositioned it as a credible, efficient, and purpose-driven public sector developer.
Once challenged by governance and operational inefficiencies, the Agency has re-emerged as a trusted partner in South Africa’s quest for sustainable human settlements and spatial transformation.
Operationalised in 2009, the HDA is a national public sector development agency mandated to identify, acquire, prepare, and develop land for human settlements. Working with national, provincial, and local government, as well as with developers, financiers, and communities, the HDA plays a catalytic role in driving the national human settlements agenda.
At the helm of the HDA is its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bheki Khenisa, supported by the Executive Team, who are passionate and purpose-driven. Steered by a vision of prosperity and dignity for all, Khenisa is determined to ensure that the HDA delivers on its mandate and contributes meaningfully to the nation’s human settlements and spatial transformation goals.
“Our mandate centers around spatial transformation. We identify and acquire well-located land, centrally positioned, service and develop it for human settlements,” explains Khenisa.
A transformed organisation built on accountability and performance
In recent years, the HDA has strengthened its governance systems, integrated financial and non-financial performance reporting, and streamlined internal processes to deliver measurable results.
One of the most visible shifts has been the Agency’s transformation of its internal processes, which drastically improved efficiency in procurement and reduced turnaround times. These reforms have not only enhanced accountability but have also improved stakeholder confidence and accelerated service delivery.
The results speak for themselves: the HDA has moved from a 29% performance in 2021/2022, to achieving an unqualified audit opinion with no findings (clean audit) outcome and 95% performance target achievement in the 2024/2025 financial year.
The transformation has not been limited to systems and processes. At the heart of the HDA’s renewal is its people. The Agency has actively reshaped its organisational culture to build a workforce that is motivated, empowered, and aligned with its strategic goals.
Through a refreshed Employee Value Proposition (EVP), staff now have a clear understanding of the Agency’s mission and their role in achieving it. The results are tangible: improved morale and greater accountability. As Khenisa notes, “When employees understand why their work matters, excellence becomes a natural outcome and clean audits are simply the by-product of that shared purpose.”
This internal renewal has been mirrored externally. The HDA has successfully rebuilt its reputation as a reliable development partner, able to attract and manage funds responsibly. Its renewed credibility has led to expanded collaboration with provincial departments, municipalities, and other public and private stakeholders, who now view the Agency as a key enabler in delivering human settlements and infrastructure projects.
“Strategic stakeholder engagement has become central to this renewed focus. Through its ongoing provincial roadshows, and sector partnerships, the HDA is reintroducing itself as a performance-driven, solutions-oriented developer partner, ready to co-create the future of human settlements,” adds Khenisa.
Looking ahead, the HDA is positioning itself as government’s developer of choice, in line with the Minister of Human Settlements’ call for delivery institutions that can execute at scale. “Our journey shows that transformation goes beyond systems – it’s about people, purpose, and performance united for impact. We invite public and private partners to join us. The HDA is ready for business,” concludes Khenisa.
These achievements underline the HDA’s capacity to help government deliver sustainable, people-centred solutions that change lives.