I recently undertook an oversight visit to the Zandspruit electrification project after decades of neglect by the former administration had left the community with poor access to quality of services.
In March this year the City of Johannesburg launched the beginning of a new development of 701 residential sites in Zandspruit – this is a first for a housing project of this magnitude.
The project, as set out over three phases, is expected to yield up to 2400 walk-up units upon full completion.
In managing alternative accommodation as development progresses, the City’s Department of Housing has identified erf RE47/191 (Part of Zandspruit Ext 33) to be used as an alternative site where a total of 24 structures will be built and completed by 15 August 2019.
The 24 family structures will cater for 13 families that have encroached on a newly built road and the 10 structures will accommodate the 10 families identified from transit camp. There has been extensive consultation with community members through public and street committee meetings through my office in a bid to ensure that we engage meaningfully. Furthermore, we have submitted consent forms on the 17th of July 2019 to the families that have encroached.
It is important to indicate that despite the challenges the process of electrification has posed, we have written an indemnity letter to Eskom on the 1st of August 2019 in support of the project to create space for the existing services and the new infrastructure, including the families that have settled in the area.
The community of Zandspruit has been actively involved in the project and have shown a high degree of ownership over the project by finding practical solutions to issues of encroachment that were hindering progress.
The contractor is currently on site to build structures to accommodate families who need to be relocated to an alternative site.
The level of commitment exemplified by community members is very encouraging indeed and will most certainly fast-track the development. We would like to applaud the community for supporting the process of ensuring that our people have access to electricity, which will truly improve their quality of life.
Further progress include the approval being secured by the land surveyor for the general plan on the 24th of July 2019.
I have also instructed the Housing Department to submit an application for electrification of the alternative sites.
In addition, I went to the newly established Ext 84 and observed progress on the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JA) project. The general plan for Ext 84 was approved during July 2019. I have been informed that JRA has taken the initiative to prepare the detailed engineering design covering road and storm water and soon Ext 84 will be linked with Cosmo City extension 7 and Zandspruit.
The development milestones in Zandspruit is testament of this administration’s commitment towards changing the lives of the residents of Johannesburg.