The City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, as well as the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi, and other dignitaries including ward councillors, celebrated with the latest beneficiaries of the City’s R130 million The Hague housing project in Delft today, 21 January 2020. A total of 17 beneficiaries received the keys to their new homes. More than 800 new Breaking New Ground (BNG) subsidy housing opportunities are being built in this phase and 116 homes have already been handed over.
The City will continue to deliver housing opportunities to qualifying beneficiaries across the metro in this new year, while at the same time preventing the unlawful occupation of land to prevent the loss of opportunities for the beneficiaries who have already been identified.
Beneficiaries Ms Mariam Cloete, 63, and Mr Herman Cloete, 64, have previously lived with family and were among those who received the keys to their new home today.
‘I was overwhelmed and emotional when I found out I would be moving into our own home, because we now have security and a place to call ours. When I received the keys, my hands were trembling; it really hit me that this home is ours and it means so much to us,’ said Mariam Cloete.
‘Today we celebrate with these 17 beneficiaries as they start this exciting chapter in their lives. It is always pleasing to see the progress at the City’s housing projects. We remain committed to handing over new housing opportunities to qualifying beneficiaries to create opportunities for them and to enable redress. We will continue to protect our projects and the rights of residents who are waiting for housing opportunities. The City thanks the project teams for their hard work and dedication in helping us provide homes to the beneficiaries,’ said Mayor Plato.
Beneficiaries of the BNG houses are 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
‘This project began in April 2018 and will provide a total of 2 407 BNG housing opportunities to our beneficiaries who are some of the most vulnerable in Cape Town. The project is expected to be concluded by the end of June 2021, if all goes according to plan. I urge all concerned to work with the City so that we can complete this project in the shortest possible time. The unlawful occupation of land, and the narrow interests of some will not enable us to make progress possible and to improve the living conditions of our beneficiaries. We work according to the applicable legislation to ensure there is fairness and an organised approach to the allocation of housing opportunities given the great need.
‘Our housing projects remain under threat of unlawful occupation. Stealing land in this way steals opportunities from those who are registered and from beneficiaries that are in the process of receiving their affordable housing opportunity. 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 unlawfully,’ said Councillor Booi.