The City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor Dan Plato and the developer Garden Cities celebrated with beneficiaries of the R74 million Greenville Garden City Phase 3 housing project near Durbanville. This City project is an exciting one, not only for the redress that it enables, but also for the alternative building technologies that have been used in its development.
On Wednesday, 23 September 2020, the City and Garden Cities handed over the keys of 20 new State-subsidised houses to first-time homeowners. Greenville is a partnership between the City’s Human Settlements Directorate, the Western Cape Government Department of Human Settlements and developer, Garden Cities.
Thus far, 868 beneficiaries have received homes in Phase 1, which cost approximately R153 million. Phase 2 was completed in August 2020, which included 507 BNG housing opportunities, at a cost of approximately R94 million. Greenville forms part of a greater catalytic housing development, which will eventually boast approximately 4 000 BNG housing opportunities, social housing, financed linked houses and commercial opportunities. Apart from the 20 units handed over today, a further 126 houses will be handed over in Greenville this year.
‘The City congratulates all beneficiaries who have received their homes today. Our most vulnerable residents deserve safe and comfortable housing that will last for generations. It is also very important that we drive our redress agenda to ensure that those who were previously unable to own property are empowered as first-time homeowners. The City remains dedicated to housing provision and will continue to make every effort to deliver more housing opportunities that will empower many more residents as property owners,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
‘Today, we congratulate the new homeowners who have received their keys to their brand new homes. The City remains committed to inclusivity and will keep on exploring all possibilities to enable us to provide more affordable housing opportunities for our residents. We will continue to hand over new housing opportunities to beneficiaries over the coming months. We recognise that we need new ways to deliver opportunities and greater partnerships to address the housing demand. A radical reform of the housing environment is required and we urge all residents to look at the draft Human Settlements Strategy that is out for public participation. It sets out the challenges and proposes a direction to enable the delivery of more opportunities, especially for those earning below R22 000 per month,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements,’ Councillor Malusi Booi.
Greenville Phase 3 uses Alternative Building Technologies (ABT) such as the Benex Block, which was brought to South Africa by Garden Cities from Australia.
‘The Benex Block is a lightweight block, thermal efficient and easy to use during construction. Due to the easy installation, Garden Cities is able to use skilled and unskilled labour from the community.
‘In addition to the materials consisting of Alternative Building Technologies, Garden Cities has been successful in developing subcontractors from the community, who now employ their own teams and provide jobs within the greater Fisantekraal area. Garden Cities will continue to support the subcontractors as part of its Enterprise Development Initiative,’ said John Matthews, Group CEO of the Garden Cities Group.
View and comment on the draft Human Settlements Strategy
Please visit www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay. In addition, the executive summary of the strategy is available in three official languages at subcouncil offices during the public participation period, which closes on 30 November 2020.
Unlawful occupation: Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:
Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity that is taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies.