09 July 2007

By Themba Gadebe

A multi-million rand housing scheme designed to relieve the housing crisis in Khayelitsha in Cape Town will be completed in two months.

Executive Director of the City of Cape Town's Housing Department, Hans Smit said the Kuyasa Phase 2 Project will improve the standard of living for more than two thousand families living in Site C, Khayelitsha.

"This is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when civic authorities work in close consultation with affected communities. It has been completed on time and within budget," he said.

The project is one of the key anchor projects of the Presidential Urban Renewal Programme and is funded primarily by the Capital Housing Subsidy Funding (PHDB).

The element of this project is the City's Integrated Human Settlement vision which seeks to create a viable environment for families rather than a collection of houses that lack support systems.

The construction started in September 2005, and 2 030 houses have been built to date.

The area has been provided with overhead mast lighting and an electricity supply to the completed houses.

The houses are 36 metres square and have two bedrooms, but beneficiaries who were able to contribute financially towards the construction of their houses have received 42 metres square houses.

"Many families which have taken occupation of their new houses have already started building onto their homes, adding value to their starter house.

"Gardens have been planted, houses painted in creative ways and many small business have been started," Smit said.

One of the new residents, Michael Mayekiso, said: "I'm happy that I no longer live in a shack. I'm happy to be in Kuyasa."

In addition, market stalls have been developed adjacent to the project and several small businesses have been started as a result with more on the way.

A new clinic has been opened bringing the business opportunities and health care services closer to residents.

Young residents will not have to travel far to attend school anymore as primary and secondary schools were currently being erected and set to be completed by September 2007.

Seth Maqetuka, Director of Strategy, Support and Coordination in the City's Housing Directorate, praised the fortitude and patience of the Site C community who had waited for a decade to receive their title deeds.

Site C was one of the first areas to be established in Khayelitsha in 1985, as a transit camp, but was the last to be developed due to the high number of people living on a single site.

Source: BuaNews