The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi, this afternoon, 18 January 2021, visited the City’s R55 million Maroela South housing project in Kraaifontein to check on its progress. This follows an impasse that was reached between the City and some in the beneficiary source community regarding the allocations of units in the project. Members of the temporary relocation area settlement in particular prevented the contractor from completing the civil works. The City is confident that a resolution can be reached soon so that activity can resume. City housing projects also continue to be under pressure from unlawful occupation, orchestrated by individuals and groups.
Progress looks promising at the City’s Maroela South housing project after community dynamics, the interference and actions of some residents and unlawful occupation caused delays despite the City’s best efforts to keep work on track. The civil contract on the Maroela South site was interrupted by some in the community in May 2020 with only one month left to complete the project ahead of the construction of the housing units. Wallacedene Temporary Relocation Area (TRA) residents threatened and intimidated the contractor and site staff and disputed the approved beneficiary allocation split. The contractor therefore moved off site and the contract for the civil works expired. The City is following supply chain management requirements to enable it to reappoint the contractor to complete the civil works as soon as possible, if the Project Steering Committee approves the way forward. Civil engineering contract completion could take about four months if all goes according to plan.
The Maroela South project entails the construction of 570 State-subsidised Breaking New Ground (BNG) and Gap housing units. It will consist of 395 BNG houses for qualifying beneficiaries on the City’s Housing Needs Register and 175 Gap houses for people who earn between R3 500 to R22 000 a month.
Importantly, beneficiaries of the BNG houses are being selected in accordance with the City’s Housing Allocation Policy and the City’s Housing Needs Register to ensure that housing opportunities are made available in a fair and transparent manner that prevents queue jumping and to those who qualify for housing as per the South African legislation.
‘I urge all concerned to work with the City so that we can complete this project in the shortest possible time. Narrow interests and agendas will not enable us to make progress possible and to improve the living conditions of beneficiaries. We work according to the Housing Allocation Policy and the Housing Needs Register to ensure there is fairness and an organised approach to the allocation of accommodation opportunities given the great need. We need an objective, centralised approach because how else does one determine who gets an opportunity and who does not.
‘In the current climate, it also remains imperative that we complete our projects in the shortest possible timeframe as our housing projects remain acutely under threat of unlawful occupation. Unlawful land occupation is illegal. Stealing land in this manner, steals opportunities from those who are registered on the Register and from beneficiaries that are in the process of receiving their affordable housing opportunity. Queue-jumping for housing opportunities and services is unacceptable. The City has court orders in place and will do everything in its power to protect these projects and the rightful beneficiaries. Residents and communities are encouraged to support the City’s efforts to protect beneficiaries, community projects and services by alerting us to any attempts to occupy land earmarked for service delivery,’ said Councillor Booi.