8 / 48
June 2016
News
T
he City of Cape Town’s
R120 million Manenberg infill
housing project is currently
S
o far this has not happened.
Gqaba says, “Beneficiaries only
become aware they donot have
a say in the construction of their asset.
We continue to treat people as passive
recipients of government services.
This has to change.”
Provinces, such as the Free State
and Northern Cape are spending as-
tronomical amounts, some as high as
R700 000, on repairs to a house.
“We also need to review the quali-
fying income band for Breaking New
Ground housing as well as Social
Housing and Institutional subsidies.”
A cco r d i ng t o Gqaba , mo s t
municipalities have not planned for
upgrades of informal settlements.
Another issue includes land ac-
quisition, which forms part of the
Strategic Plan Priorities, and there has
been nomunicipal budgeting for this.
In some areas this function is not
within the control of the Department
Manenberg housing project
DOHS under pressure
The Democ rat i c A l l i ance’s
Shadow Deputy Minister of
Human Settlements, Tandeka
Gqaba says that in July 2014,
government promised to have
a credible Housing Demand
database that would assist
municipalities in the allocation
of fully subsidised state housing.
of Human Settlements. According to
the Department there is a backlog of
900 000 title deeds that still have to
be completed. In KwaZulu-Natal the
existing backlog does not reflect the
backlog. It is clear that this important
task is not being taken seriously.
Kevin Mileham, Shadow Minister
of Cooperative Governance and Tra-
ditional Affairs says that the City of
Cape Town is leading themunicipality
when it comes rolling out title deeds
to state housing beneficiaries. Nelson
Mandela Bay Metro lags behind with
50 934 outstanding title deeds, and
Johannesburg has over 220 000 home
owners waiting for title deeds as the
land still has to be approved as a
townshipbefore the title deedprocess
can be concluded.
■
being rolled out. The all-women
project steering committee will
oversee the construction of 587
subsidised units. The project is due
for completion by 2019.
According to the city’s Mayoral
Committee Member for Human Set-
tlements, Benedicta van Minnen,
“This area is incredibly volatile,
largely as a result of the high levels of
gangsterism and drug-related crime.
It is therefore not a simple task of
building subsidised units.
“We are fully aware that we will
face some uphill battles in this area.”
She adds that additional safety
measures will be put in place, includ-
ing the employment of a local neigh-
bourhoodwatch. In an effort to secure
the site, the erection of perimeter
fencing has been provided for.
“In addition, we are engaging with
local leaders in the area in an attempt
to mobilise the community behind
the project.”
Van Minnen says that a unique
feature of this project is the mural
initiative. Unemployed young people
are participating in mosaic art train-
ing, which is currently underway.
“The four-month training project
aims to provide unemployed youth
with an opportunity to learn a skill so
that they can create opportunities for
themselves.”
The large-scale murals will be
displayed on buildings and houses
that look onto Govan Mbeki Drive.
The murals will celebrate Manen-
berg’s heritage.
■