Thursday, 30 January 2020, the City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato and Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi, visited the Harare Infill housing project to check on its progress. They were accompanied by Ward Councillor Xolisa Peter (Ward 92). The project will provide 901 qualifying beneficiaries with State-subsidised homes and construction is expected to begin in the last few months of 2020.
The site was handed over in June 2019 for two contracts for internal services. The City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Directorate has commenced with the internal services of the project which is being built on four separate erven. Approximately R43 million has been budgeted for these services which includes the roads, stormwater, water and sewer infrastructure.
More than 50% of the work onsite has been completed. This phase is expected to be completed in September 2020, if all goes according to plan. Upon completion of the internal services, construction of the houses will commence.
During today’s site visit to check on the progress of the project, which will provide 901 qualifying beneficiaries with State-subsidised homes, it was noted that much work had already been done. This housing project will see some of Cape Town’s most vulnerable residents become first-time property owners and create employment opportunities for the local community during the construction period.
‘This project is testament to the City’s commitment to redress and service delivery through the provision of housing opportunities. When homes are built for our most vulnerable residents, it empowers them as first-time property owners. Our 901 qualifying beneficiaries are one step closer to receiving their BNG homes for which they have been waiting patiently for many years.
‘The Harare Infill housing project emphasises our dedication to service delivery and is a celebration of the partnership between the City and the community who have been working together for many years to witness this project become a reality for our qualifying beneficiaries,’ said Mayor Plato.
Construction of the houses is a multi-year project and approximately R114 million will be utilised for this phase.
‘It is pleasing to see the project progressing well because it means that we are one step closer to seeing construction commence and our beneficiaries take occupation of their homes. I am looking forward to returning to this site in the near future to hand over keys to the beneficiaries.
‘In addition to the provision of houses, another important aspect of this project is that it will create employment opportunities for the community as the contractors will be employing local enterprises and labour who are registered on the subcouncil database to work on site.
‘Over the coming months, we encourage the community to continue to support and work together with the City to ensure that this project stays on schedule so that we are able to soon celebrate the handover of these houses to our qualifying beneficiaries and their families,’ said Councillor Booi.