Ways of overcoming the crushing difficulties that African housing departments face are to be tackled at a conference of ministers of housing and urban development to be held in Abuja, Nigeria next week.

South Africa has been chairing and the housing department has provided the secretariat for the African ministerial conference on housing and urban development (Amchud) since its inception three years ago, when the first meeting was held in Durban.

Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will report to next week's plenary on progress so far, and will pass the baton to Nigeria.

The director general of South Africa's department, Itumeleng Kotsoane said on Monday: "We have been working with our African partners, the UN Habitat and the African Union to find simple solutions and also share our experiences on how cities can respond to this challenge of the 21st century."

I-Net Bridge