Tshwane plans multiple housing projects to alleviate backlog
The plans for more social housing projects are due to the high demand for rental accommodation in Tshwane.
The Tshwane metro plans to build social housing units in the CBD to alleviate housing demand.
Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro anticipated that several housing projects will be erected shortly to meet the high demand for rental accommodation in Pretoria.
He said the metro was planning to build 264 housing units at 32 Bourke Street, Sunnyside in the 2023/2024 financial year.
“Once the city’s financial position recovers, we anticipate beginning construction.”
He said the metro has budgeted R11-million for a bulk infrastructure upgrade for the site and planned more social housing projects in other regions of the city.
Mashigo said the Timberlands social housing project was still in the pipeline, despite a report that the contractor had terminated their contract with Housing Company Tshwane (HCT) after declaring a dispute on the draft final account.
The report also stated that the contractor intended to terminate the contract because law enforcement took too long to remove the minibus taxis that used the site.
Mashigo said the contractor had not terminated the contract with the metro and the taxis had been removed so the site was ready for construction to commence.
Human settlements MMC Abel Tau announced that the Marabastad townlands social housing project opened this week to the 154 approved beneficiaries for viewing.
Tau, together with HCT CEO Obakeng Nyundu, hosted the viewing of the 1 200 multimillion-rand mixed units project on Wednesday.
He said Townlands would cater to residents who did not qualify for the government-subsidised houses but earned R1 500 and R15 000 per month – enough to qualify for a home loan.
“Six hundred and ninety-one beneficiaries have been approved for occupation before the end of the calendar year.”
He said the chosen spot would give the residents easy access to economic nodes and other opportunities.
“Based on its strategic location in Tshwane, Townlands will play an important role in bringing our residents closer to economic nodes to enable access to job opportunities. Tenants will also find it easier and less expensive to reach their workplaces.”
Tau said urbanisation and integration of living spaces were an integral part of the metro’s housing strategy.
He said Phase 1 comprised 691 units and Phase 2, 509.
He said the Chantelle social housing project, in the north of Pretoria, would consist of 600 mixed-use units on a R131-million budget.
He said the metro also planned to relocate qualifying Plastic View and Cemetery View dwellers to a social housing development planned for Pretorius Park, near Woodlands mall.
Recently Moreleta Park, Woodhill, Woodlands and Mooikloof homeowners said they were fed up with the six-year inability of the metro to move the informal settlement from their doorstep as ordered by the court.
The metro said its housing backlog stood at 210 000 in June.
ALSO READ: Dysfunctional Sunnyside sector 2 CPF committee resuscitated
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
