The City of Cape Town’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 R34,2 million Morningstar housing project in Durbanville today, 10 February 2021. A total of 12 beneficiaries received the keys to their new homes. The project was held up for more than two years due to a protracted legal challenge with a grouping in the community preventing the handover of homes to the beneficiaries. The City continues to explore all of its legal options to protect the project and its beneficiaries.
By the end of this week, the City would have successfully handed over 59 of the 166 Breaking New Ground (BNG) State-subsidised houses to qualifying beneficiaries within this project. Their move in had been delayed due to the Morningstar Development and Upliftment Initiative (MDUI) attempting to prevent the handover and challenging the allocation process. This matter followed due court processes and negotiations were successful as both parties came to an amicable settlement in October 2020. The settlement was made an order of the court on 13 November 2020. The grouping has again attempted to disrupt and delay the handing over of houses to the qualifying beneficiaries, some who are among the most vulnerable in Cape Town.
‘It is not fair to our beneficiaries to make them wait any longer than absolutely necessary for their opportunities. We always want to see our projects being successfully completed and our qualifying beneficiaries move into their new homes. Community cooperation and support is vital to completing our projects within the fastest practical time possible.
‘It is in the interest of the City as well as the beneficiaries to roll out projects quickly and without delay. We thank the team of people who are involved in this project for the hard work and dedication in helping us provide opportunities to these beneficiaries who have been waiting patiently for their new homes. We remain committed to handing over new homes to beneficiaries in areas across the metro to create affordable housing opportunities for them and to enable redress,’ said Councillor Booi.
The selection of beneficiaries for housing projects is done in accordance with the City’s Allocation Policy and the City’s Housing Needs Register to ensure that housing opportunities are allocated to qualifying beneficiaries in a fair and equitable manner that prevents queue-jumping. The beneficiary target areas are determined in consultation with the community’s representatives, and submitted to a Housing Allocation Committee for approval.
The handover of houses is expected to be completed by the end of March 2021, if all goes according to plan.