New houses for Danville’s park
The proposal to develop Erf 1442 Danville for houses should not just remain on paper, but rapidly move towards providing decent and affordable housing.
Andrew Ngozo
Danville’s last remaining park, located on Erf 1442 in Danville, will soon be a residential area with bonded houses.
This after a motion was passed at a recent council meeting approving the development.
DA councillor for the area Danie Swanepoel said: “In the past, developments of the same nature, while aesthetically impressive, have failed to lay a solid foundation for a more inclusive society and they have tended to trap the poor in new urban ghettos, far from work opportunities.”
He said the Tshwane metro should ensure that the new development will have easy access to facilities such as schools and hospitals and cater for all income groups.
“We must strive to encourage market-based solutions for housing in so-called gap markets and for self-help initiatives.
“This will free up state resources to service the poor and most vulnerable,” said Swanepoel.
He added that all appointments of service providers would have to be localised to cater for locals.
“This is a DA ward and, as the councillor, I will oversee the appointment of the cooperative living organisation (CLO),” he said.
Fellow DA councillor Hentie Notje said this development should not remain a proposal on paper.
“We all know the problems with housing in this city can only be resolved by consistent hard work on the ground.
“Henceforth, we hope that there will be rapid development on the land because the land availability agreement between the Tshwane metro, the department of housing, the Gauteng government and the developer was signed as far back as July 2011,” said Nortje.
That so much time had elapsed was neither acceptable nor understandable, said Nortje.
“We must not be told stories that the developer is the one dragging their feet.
“Let this development not be used as an electioneering tool as we approach the next local government elections, but it must be genuinely focused on providing affordable and decent housing for all,” he said.
Residents reacted to the news of the development.
Siyabonga Sikhakhane told Rekord he would miss the park.
“It has become a landmark to some of us but since it is for a good cause aimed at improving the lives of the community, then the new development is welcome,” he said.
Elton Ngwenya said he hoped the new development would be an all-purpose residential place. “Hopefully, the metro will create new parks and other recreational facilities. We need more places where we can live, work and play in the metro,” he said.
Sibongile Thwala said: “I visited the park often just to relax and for self-introspection. I am sad that it will no longer be there, but am heartened that in its place would be something that would bring joy to many families.”
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