By Clive Ndou

Cape Town – a housing project set to herald a new chapter in government’s efforts to house the poor in proper structures, is nearly ready for occupation.

The N2 Gateway housing project, situated along Cape Town’s highway to the airport, will house members of more than 21 000 households currently living in informal settlements and backyard shacks.

The Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu was excited that the wait would soon be over for the intended beneficiaries of the project, but admitted the venture had posed a handful of challenges to stakeholders.

“Some of the things did not happen the way we had wanted them to, but we have learnt a lot and are happy with the final product,” she said.

Most of the 750 houses in the first phase of the project are already complete. The houses, which range from one to three bedrooms, have, as an extra, a view of Table Mountain.

Sisulu said despite the fact that several houses had been completed; she would not let beneficiaries take occupation until all the building work had been concluded.

“We will wait until all the structural work has been done,” she said.

She said not allowing people to occupy houses while construction work was still being done on the site would also give authorities enough time to ensure waiting list issues are resolved.

The project, which will have a major impact on Cape Town, is also of national importance as it is a pilot of the new national housing policy.

All South Africa’s nine provinces have adopted the project and will be using it as a model when tackling their housing challenges.

Source: BuaNews