21 November 2006
By Lucky Sindane
MORE than 8 000 houses will be built in the Winnie Mandela informal settlement and Tswelopele, in Tembisa, under the Community Builders Programme.
The programme is a joint venture between the Ekurhuleni municipality and the Gauteng provincial government, which has set aside an estimated R474-million to be spent over the next three years on the housing developments.
Executive Mayor Duma Nkosi and Gauteng MEC for housing Nomvula Mokonyane officially launched the Community Builders Programme on Tuesday, 14 November at the settlement.
It is part of the government's strategy to accelerate the delivery of houses by co-opting members of the community to help build their own homes. The project will help to resolve the housing backlog and to curb the mushrooming of shacks.
In all, 8 460 existing stands will get top structures and other basic services.
Thousands of residents, mostly women from the Winnie Mandela informal settlement carrying babies on their backs, braved the heat and gathered at a huge marquee set up on an open space in the settlement. Speaking to the residents, Nkosi said, "We are here today to make you aware that development is taking place in Winnie Mandela informal settlement."
However, Mokonyane used the opportunity to speak out about the ever-growing number of backyard shacks. "The erection of shacks where there are top structures is a serious problem that impacts negatively on the value of the low cost houses.
"We need to deal with this problem together with the municipalities before it is too late. Strict by-laws will be enforced so that the province can win the battle against the illegal erection of shacks."
Nkosi echoed her sentiments, saying that five or six families would live in one yard. "That's a problem for us."
A survey conducted by the department of housing in 1996 found that there was an overflow of 3 188 families within the Winnie Mandela area. To resolve this problem, about 1 015 beneficiaries have been moved into stands with top structures in Esselen Park Extensions One and Two.
One of the challenges facing the department, however, is to find suitable land to relocate the communities.
"We also have a serious problem with the availability of land," Mokonyane said. "I really want to commend all the people who allow the construction work to take place while they are moved to a temporary stand. This will help us to build enough houses because there will be more habitable land for the construction of houses."
Nonsikelelo Ngobeni, one of the beneficiaries, said she was very excited about the project. "I've been living at Winnie Mandela informal settlement for the past 11 years and I still don't have a toilet. I hope this project will help us."
Presentation for Seminar
