Low-cost housing to replace shacks in Sheffield

As squatters once again lay claim to municipal-owned land in Sheffield plans are steadily progressing to develop the land into a formal low-cost housing project.

This should put an end to the informal structures that serve as homes to a number of shack dwellers.

Earlier this year the municipality demolished approximately 45 structures built illegally on the vacant land in the area opposite Sheffield Manor residential apartments, along the road leading to the Flag Farm.

The land is owned by KwaDukuza municipality and this was not the first incident of land invasions there by individuals who claimed they paid between R300 and R650 a plot.

While 11 families have been given permission to live on the property, piles of building materials were seen on site when the Courier visited the area this week.

Feasibility studies were conducted at the beginning of the year after the shacks had been cleared to ascertain the typology of a development to be undertaken by the municipality on this portion of land.

A formal environmental impact assessment has also been conducted by Asande Projects Consulting and Engineering who have been appointed by KwaDukuza municipality to develop the property.

The proposed development, that was presented to the Ward 22 Committee by KDM housing officials at the beginning of the year, has been earmarked for approximately 800* housing units.

While adequate formal housing is a very real challenge for many South Africans the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Ravi Pillay has set out a human settlements trajectory proposition with a credible long term plan to eradicate informal settlements.

The plan that was presented to the committee could see hundreds of residents who had invaded land illegally get access to basic services such as water and electricity.

In a report to the Ward Committee it was noted that a screening process would be followed where households will be pre-screened against the housing subsidy system to establish whether they qualify for a government subsidy.

It was made very clear those that qualify will be settled systematically, but those that do not qualify will be redirected through a land disposal policy to alternative serviced sites.

Ward 22 Cllr Privi Makhan said the activities currently underway on the municipal owned land were illegal and the situation had been brought to the attention of the head of Human Settlement, Muzi Sithole.

*The original article had the number at 4000 but has been updated accordingly since the feasibility study results resulted in the number being dramatically lowered.

Watch: In February about 80 people had their illegal homes, both shacks and tents, of the past year, torn down on the KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) owned land opposite the Sheffield Manor flats.