City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) MMC for Human Settlements Lesiba Mpya visited Extension 25, where a housing project is underway to cater for people living in shacks in Thembisa.
According to the MMC, they are building a combination of social housing and RDP housing, with 3 500 units that will benefit the people of Winnie Mandela who have been living in cramped conditions for years.
“As the City we are going to build 100 000 houses and 59 000 serviced stands. This land is called Thembisa Extension 25, which we acquired from Old Mutual,” said Mpya at a media briefing on February 23.
“By the end of the financial year we have to deliver 500 units. It is a multi-year project and we will have to deliver at least 500 units every financial year until the end. We are excited that this project will bring employment to the people of Thembisa.
“This is a meaningful intervention by government after the strikes and anger the community has demonstrated in the past. Our primary focus is that black-owned businesses in particular will benefit from the development, as well as the disabled and women.
“The community has assured us that there will be minimal hindrance to the project and that we will operate at full speed.
“We are going to stick to the prescribed policy of 40 square metre RDP houses. We will meet the project timeline from now until June at the end of the financial year. The homes are an SABS-tested module that can stand against flooding and heavy rains. The R97-million budget will be utilised fully.
“Currently, sewage systems, street lights, electricity transformers and roads have been constructed and installed.”
