Today, the Msimanga DA-led multi-party administration is enthused to share in the radical human resettlement and spatial transformation milestone with residents of Phomolong informal settlement in the east of the City.
The Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Sollly Msimanga, accompanied by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing and Human Settlements, Cllr Mandla Nkomo and ward 40 Councillor, Shadi Maja, today undertook an oversight visit to Phomolong with a view to observe the relocation of households to a nearby formal Nellmapius Ext 22.
As part of Project Tirane- which centres on the formalisation of informal settlements and entails either relocating communities to service stands or upgrading of existing areas with full services. The City has recently embarked on a relocation process of 374 households from erf 34041 in Phomolong informal settlement to formal serviced stands in Nellmapius.
Msimanga explained that the relocation and rearrangement of households in the area was long overdue. “Many of these residents were moved here by the previous ANC administration 13 years ago with the promise of formalising them and providing rudimentary services. Over time, the area has grown and is now over-crowded with shacks not clearly demarcated thus making it very difficult to formalise and provide proper services”.
“This relocation allows decanting of the area and resettlement of households in an orderly manner according to an approved layout plan. We have begun the process of reintroducing dignity to the lives of our people.” said Msimanga.
As the relocation continues the City will clear the vacant area, rehabilitate it and re-arrange the remaining households according to the approved layout plan in order to accommodate a total of 1052 beneficiaries who are also current residents of Phomolong.
MMC Nkomo indicated that all vetted beneficiaries will receive title deeds, “It is our intention to bestow security of tenure to the deserving beneficiaries and to restore their dignity through property ownership. We believe in making your living conditions more humane and in a structural manner by promoting sustainable townships with all the required amenities”.
The full package of services to be provided under Project Tirane includes:
- Metered Water connection to every home
- Sanitation connection
- Paved roads and Stormwater
- Regulatory signs and street names
- Metered Electricity connections to households
- Street lights
- Provision of kerbside waste management services
- Title Deed and Council recommended building plans.
Under the multi-party government, Tshwane will continue to champion equitable and fair access to a range of housing solutions to deserving individuals.