12 June 2008

A partnership between the government and private sector will see more than 9000 affordable houses being built for people from different income groups.

Announced by the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) in Johannesburg on Wednesday 11 June, the partnership with Sea Kay Engrineering Services (Pty) Limited is worth about R130 million.

The project will see the construction of more than 600 fully subsidised RDP houses in Alberton, Vereeniging and Randfontein and is set to create more than 10 000 jobs.

"The rest will be mixed income housing units in the N2 gateway area in Cape Town. Most of these houses will be completed before June 2009," said NHFC Chief Executive Officer Sampson Moraba.

Explaining the project, Moraba said it aims to alleviate poverty through improving living standards by housing the poor as well as low-to medium-income earners in the identified areas.

"The project will benefit various economies in the local areas where they will be constructed while ensuring skills development," he told the reporters.

Those earning less than R1500, and those earning between R1500 and R15 000 a month, would benefit from the project, he said.

The project is in line with government's Breaking New Ground (BNG) Strategy and conforms to the provincial, regional and local authority clearances and by-laws such as engineering design, BEE requirements, cost effectiveness and labour intensiveness.

Further, all the requires services such as the piped water, sanitation, electrical reticulation and storm-water drainages are already in place as the project falls within the various Local Authorities Integrated Development Plans.

Speaking during the announcement, Sea Kay Chief Executive, Corne Kruger said they were proud to be associated with such a partnership that will provide decent housing to South Africans.

"Sea Kay is committed to help create an affordable and stable housing infrastructure in South Africa through operating within the legal framework by means of excellent services, superb quality and cost effective products we are committed to job creation and skills transfer," said Kruger

The NHFC is a state owned development institution established by the national Department of Housing in 1996.

It aims to offer housing finance, project facilitation, technical assistance and retail service finance to private and public entities while ensuring availability of housing finance for the low-moderate-income households.

Source: BuaNews