The City of Cape Town is planning to build at least 4 000 new homes in order to alleviate the housing backlog over the next year, while an additional 10 housing projects are also in the pipeline.
Cape Town’s housing backlog currently sits at about 300 000, and despite efforts to increase housing delivery, the backlog is not being reduced due to increased migration into the city.
The City’s Human Settlements Directorate says the new housing projects will provide housing for over 6 000 families when they are complete.
The 4 000 new homes will be built in a number of areas. In Rondevlei, near Lavender Hill, two-bedroom homes will be built for 145 families who are currently living in Cuba Heights informal settlement.
In this project, 40 of the beneficiaries will be employed to help with the construction. Residents were also able to have a say in the design of the homes, and the appointment of a contractor.
Work will soon start on a housing project comprising over 2 000 homes in Delft, while over 100 homes will be built on Edward Street in Grassy Park. More than 700 homes will also be built as part of a housing project in Heideveld.
A total of 405 homes will be completed in Philippi East this year, and 350 will be built in Happy Valley near Blackheath. New homes will also be built in Scottsdene and Atlantis.
In Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, 52 families will be relocated in order for the land they are occupying to be developed for formal housing.
Meanwhile, the directorate is also planning 6 000 “site and service” sites – plots that will receive basic municipal services but nothave a formal structure.
The City recently handed over the last 13 of 500 homes making up the second batch of the Witsand Phase 2 Integrated Energy Environment Empowerment Cost Optimisation (iEEECO) Housing Project. The first 200 houses were handed over to beneficiaries in December 2010, and the project will ultimately consist of 1 835 units, all of which are built with a higher standard of quality as well as energy efficiency features such as solar water geysers.
The City’s 40 000 rental units will continue to be upgraded as part of the Community Residential Unit programme, with plans to spend more than R1 billion in the coming years under this national government initiative. About 7 000 council-owned properties have been earmarked for renovations this year. Over 900 units at a hostel in Langa will be renovated, and the upgrading of 145 homes in Hangberg will also get underway.
“As part of our commitment to building a Caring City, this administration tries to provide as many housing opportunities to as many beneficiaries as possible. This can be challenging as we work with moving targets every year. It is therefore always pleasing to be able to hand people the keys to their homes. It also reaffirms our commitment to continuing the work we do in the Human Settlements Directorate,” says Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg.
