20 June 08

By Keotshepile wa Mogotsi

HOUSING has topped the national agenda since the first democratically elected government took the reins of power in South Africa, and it is taking overall responsibility for providing houses for all.

Its goal remains that of creating sustainable housing developments, where people are able to own their own properties. And the noticeable rapid mushrooming of millions of houses in previously disadvantaged areas continues to engender a sense of pride in people’s new homes, streets and areas.

South Africa set itself a target of eradicating informal settlements by 2014 and, looking at the speed of housing development across the country, many agree that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

In Mogale City on-going housing developments - including that of more than 3 000 houses that are being built in Munsieville under the 20 Prioritised Townships Project (PTP) - demonstrate that the government is breaking new ground in providing access to permanent, adequate housing and basic services.

In the most recent move, scores of people in Kagiso gathered under a huge white marquee pitched a stone’s throw from Kagiso Mall to hear the Gauteng MEC for housing, Nomvula Mokonyane, and Executive Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane speak about the new housing development planned for the land between Azaadville and Kagiso.

It is expected to cost approximately R1,3-billion, with phase one estimated to cost about R95,5-million. It will be located on the land known as Remainder of Kagiso Number 204-IQ, commonly known as the “RDP Node”, and Portion 43 - a portion of Portion 9 - of the Farm Rietvallei, 241 IQ, and neighbouring Azaadville.

Mokonyane, who grew up in Kagiso, received a warm welcome. As she led the crowd in song and dance, she steered the atmosphere in the tent when she assured people that the government would provide housing for all and that people should refrain from bribing politicians who promised them houses.

In her keynote address, she said the gathering was to celebrate what the government continued to do for its people. “We are here today to celebrate and show that, really, our government delivers what it promised its people.

“We know that there are people who don’t qualify for bonds, and to prove that we want to improve people’s lives, we will provide houses for those earning between R3,500 and R10,000.”

According to her department, in all there will be 9,15 residential units, of which 4,244 will be subsidised, 2,539 will be institutional and 2,532 will be bonded units. There will also be a mix of socio-economic amenities, including businesses, churches, a clinic, schools, a petrol station, a taxi rank, crèches, a sports precinct, parks, light industrial and retail opportunities.

The entire site comprises a development area of approximately 200 hectares.

Seerane admitted that at all the road shows the municipality undertook, people talked about their need for houses. “The truth is everywhere you go, whether in road shows, people spoke about their need for houses.

“Some people ridiculed us when we said we wanted to focus on housing because they thought it was only done at the provincial level. Our mayoral committee took a decision that other areas be reserved for project such as this one,” said Seerane.

Work towards the development began in late 2006; to date several planning milestones have been reached: the township approval and conditions of establishment; environmental authorisation by the Gauteng department of agriculture, conservation and environment; and approval of engineering services designs.

Construction should take five years, with phase one set to begin in July. This phase comprises 711 residential units.

Absa’s managing executive, Sipho Mashinini, said the houses would restore people’s dignity. “Absa today acknowledges the suffering that you have been through without homes. And [with] that first house that we going to celebrate, we will restore the dignity of a number of people.”

The Chief Mogale programme came out of the September 2004 approval by the national cabinet of a national plan Breaking New Ground, or BNG. BNG is the government’s plan to ensure that every South African has access to permanent adequate housing that provides security of tenure, protection from the elements and access to basic services.

Speaking to Dikgang Tsa Mogale, Mogale City’s housing deputy director, Adam Masonganye, said the project would be rolled out over five years, up to 2012

“To ensure speedy delivery, all three parties (have committed to a ‘fast-tracked programme’, which will deliver 711 top-structures as part of phase one by the end of April 2009. This first phase will be preceded by the construction of bulk infrastructure since there is not sufficient bulk in the area to carry the project.”

The gathering culminated with a sod turning by Mokonyane, Seerane and Mashinini.