During the recent State of the Nation Address debate this year, the human settlements minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, announced six social housing projects to be implemented in the ensuing financial year throughout the country.

Of the six, two will be rolled out in Mpumalanga, namely KwaNdokuhle and Willow Creek social housing projects in Govan Mbeki and Msukaligwa local municipalities, respectively.

The KwaNdokuhle project will have 492 units, whereas the Willow Creek is set to have 360. The combined estimated budget on both projects is well over R326m over a 24-month period commencing from the 2022/23 financial year.

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Speaking on these projects, the Mpumalanga MEC for human settlements, Speedy Mashilo, indicated that these units have no preemptive rights whatsoever.

“Look, we have had our lessons from the past, and I think we need to be assertive and concise that these units are for rental purposes only, not rent-to-buy as it was previously believed in a few projects. “Tenants will be signing lease agreements and committing to paying rental fees as required.”

He added that housing companies managing these properties must be effective and efficient in their management.

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Both projects are expected to yield over 2 600 job opportunities, much to the benefit of both skilled and semi-skilled labourers, preferably locals.

The implementation of these multiyear projects will be in partnership with accredited social housing companies that will in turn manage these properties upon completion.

“The primary purpose of social housing is urban restructuring and regeneration, and increasing the supply of rental housing in good locations for low to moderate income earners,” stated Kubayi. The Govan Mbeki Housing Company will be responsible for the KwaNdokuhle Project, while the Mzansi Housing Company takes responsibility of the Willock Creek Project.

Both projects were approved in 2020 and will run concurrently.